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sad-sweet-cowboah · 1 year ago

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The Heart of Your Home Pt 1

Summary: Arthur comes across a woman in need. What he thought was a simple good deed would take him down a much further path than anticipated.

Warnings: Cursing in this chapter, eventual canon-typical violence, eventual smut.

Word Count: 6,250

A/N: I have been working on this on the wayside for the past few months. I'm excited to continue working on this, so please sit tight!

The steady trot of the beast was all that filled Arthur’s ears. Bright sunshine warmed the otherwise cool air that blanketed northern New Hanover. His stallion’s hooves kicked up slight clouds of dust as they traveled the well-beaten path stretching out before them. The swaying trees of Cumberland Forest waited up ahead, teeming with life.

It’d been a few weeks since he’d last come up here; originally traveling up this way to clear out a group of O’Driscolls, like flushing foxes out of a den. He intentionally kept away in case any stragglers decided to return in revenge of their fallen brethren. Not that a man like him would have trouble disposing them just as well as the former assault, however, his goal was different today. Pearson needed meat, and the northern forest was rich with elk.

A strong gust of wind swirled around him, sending a chill down his spine and reminding him of those bitter weeks in Colter. God forbid they’d be driven into the snow again.

As the wind calmed, a different sound carried across the terrain. An unmistakable chorus of wolves howled. Arthur tensed, knowing that was their signal of easy prey, and he glanced around while his horse’s head shot up and began to squirm apprehensively.

No pack in sight, the haunting melody seemingly originating from the plateau to his right. It would take any man or animal more effort than it was worth to stagger down the jagged path to even reach him. He was safe, sliding his gloved hand along the stallion’s neck to soothe.

“Easy, boy,” he cooed. “You’re alright.”

No sooner did those words leave his mouth, a shrill scream pierced the otherwise still air. A scream of pure, utter terror. The scream of a woman. The desperate cry for help.

He knew better than to meddle in other’s affairs. Why should he care if some stranger became a predator’s next meal?

Perhaps he cared more than he liked to admit.

Turning his horse toward the nearest pathway up, he snapped out a command to go, his steed jolting forward despite its previous anxiety. The stallion expertly navigated the steep, rocky terrain until the land smoothed out, peaking to a flat expanse that seemingly went for miles with the cloudless azure sky.

Another sharp wail. His head turned, spotting the culprit just a few yards away. A pack of three timber wolves, all facing away and slowly stalking toward their prey beneath a large tree.

Arthur had no time to waste. He whistled loudly, catching the attention of the closest. It spun around and stared at Arthur with fierce amber eyes, lips curled back to bear a hungry, toothy grin.

A deft hand was on his revolver in a split second, drawing it from his holster and landed a bullet right between its eyes. The gunshot alerted the other two, turning away from their original prey to now target him as well.

He didn’t give them a chance. Expertly wielding his firearm to dispatch them, their now lifeless bodies falling limp to the grass, the surrounding forage painted a deep scarlet. The gun slotted back to its home.

The air was silenced again, barren of songbirds and woodland creatures, undoubtedly frightened by his interception. His eyes shifted, scanning the open area for any additional threats.

There was a squeak, as timid and frightened as a mouse. His gaze settled upon its origin, the woman that was just seconds away from being mauled to death.

Dressed in a simple button-up blouse and a vibrant skirt and hair tied back into a neat bun, you were more out of place than a rancher was in the city. Your eyes were wide with terror, hands up in attempt to defend yourself, though one fist clenched and full of what appeared to be leafy sprigs.

“Are you okay, miss?” Arthur quietly asked.

He watched as you slowly lowered your hands, your gaze fixated on the dead wolves. “I...” you started, before taking a shaky breath and looking to him directly. “I-I'm okay...thank you.”

He nodded in response. With the deed done, he should be on his way, but the curiosity was beginning to gnaw. It wasn't his business why you were out here, and he should just leave it at that. He should turn and continue along his path.

However, the thought of a woman alone and defenseless out in the wilderness didn’t exactly sit right with him. “This ain’t exactly the safest place to be,” he commented. “Why’re you out here?”

Your eyes averted immediately, and your head hung, reminding him of a child being scolded. “Looking for herbs,” you say rather quietly, your left fist opening to reveal more of the leafy stems laden in your palm, before tucking them into a small leather satchel attached around your waist. “I don’t normally venture so far from home, but—”

The glint of a silver ring on your finger caught Arthur’s attention. “Your husband don’t help?” he guessed, leaning onto the horn of his saddle.

“My husband? Hah!” your demeanor changed immediately, tilting your head back in a scoff. “Please, my husband doesn’t know a dandelion from a daffodil! No,” you sighed, shaking your head in disappointment. “As the dutiful wife, I keep the house clean and our bellies full.”

“So...you came out here jus’ to look for ingredients?” Arthur asked. “With no proper protection?”

Your brow furrowed into a scowl, the corners of your lips wrinkling. “Had I known there were wolves out here, I wouldn’t have bothered. Like I said, I don’t usually venture from home. But our herb garden died after last week’s frost.”

“There's supplies right in Valentine,” Arthur pointed out. “Would be much less dangerous than bein’ out here.”

“Ah yes, that muddy little farming town,” your nose wrinkled in disgust. “We arrived there by train when we first moved out here...” you shook your head and sighed, turning to gaze across the plateau. “Guess I have no choice now...” you glanced around wildly and frowned. “Those damn wolves scared away my horse!”

Arthur held back a sigh. The last thing he wanted to do was to traipse around New Hanover in search of a frightened steed. Poor thing is probably halfway to Ambarino by now or got cornered by something else.

That didn’t solve the matter at hand, however. To leave you alone even after killing those mongrels would fill him with unnecessary guilt. He didn’t have to continue, but that small part of his conscience convinced him otherwise. “Would you, uh, like a ride back to town?” he offered.

Your gaze fell to him immediately, your expression brightening. “If you would, please.”

Arthur nodded and held his hand out, and you stepped forward to grab it, using the freed stirrup to hoist yourself onto the back of his Andalusian. As you settled behind him, Arthur took a glance at the wolf carcasses, making a mental note to return here later. Pearson surely would appreciate having some extra pelts on hand.

He turned the horse around, spurring it into an easy lope back toward the pathway.

“I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this, mister,” you say. “I can’t imagine the thought of having to hoof it to Valentine on foot after that ordeal. My poor horse…I hope she’s okay.”

“Jus’ don’t make it a habit of makin’ trips out here, at least without somethin’ to protect yourself with,” Arthur pointed out. “It’s more dangerous than you’d think.”

“I think I got plenty of that in one day,” you sighed. “You might see me as some foolish woman, and I know I am. My husband and I have been out here for two months, and I still haven’t completely adjusted,” you laughed dryly. “See, we’re from out East, him and I.”

Arthur didn’t respond. Easterners, civilized folk that had no business being out here. Businessmen led out West with the promise of opportunities, reaping the land of its riches.

“Was all his idea to move out this way,” you continued over his silence. “I tried to make the best of it. It’s not like back at home, some days I do miss my cozy apartment...but as my husband said, there’s no point in returning when there’s something better out here for us.”

From the tone of your voice, Arthur could tell you rolled your eyes. “That’s what a lot of folk say,” Arthur mumbled. “In the end, it don’t always work out and they go back, tails tucked between their legs.”

“You don’t know my husband then,” you respond with a dry laugh. “Ambition is his game, and he’s one smart gambler.”

“For your sake, I’d hope so,” Arthur said, peering ahead to see Valentine’s rooftops appear in the distance.

The remainder of the trip fell silent. Arthur was thankful you hadn’t strayed too far from town, since this minor detour would still allow him ample time to return to his original trip.

The offending scent of the stockyards was the first to hit his nose to announce their arrival into Valentine. Mud slopped around the horse’s hooves as they trotted further into town, sidling along the edge to clear the path for the stagecoaches rolling past. He turned right, facing the bustling street. He stopped at the nearest post, avoiding the rest of the traffic.

You slid off and landed delicately, smoothing your skirt out before looking back up to him. “Thank you, mister,” you say with a smile. “Um...would you mind if you took me home too? I don’t live too far from here.”

Well, shit. Seems like this detour would take longer than he’d anticipated. He’d already done enough and removed you from any immediate danger. “Sure,” he answered, waving his hand with a half-hearted flourish.

Your smile only widened. “Thank you again, I won’t be long!” You hurried along, excitedly popping up onto the wooden walkway and disappeared into one of the shops.

Arthur sighed, dragging a palm across his face. He truly had no business escorting folk, especially someone who seemed so out of her element. However, he felt the need to at least carry through, provide you with safe passage home to your foolish husband. Perhaps today may be a lesson for you to stay safer, or even compel the two of you to move back East.

Just as you promised, your venture into the shop did not take long at all. A mere five minutes passed before the door creaked open and you reappeared, making a beeline toward him. The relief was plain on your face.

“Find what you needed?” Arthur asked.

“And much more!” You exclaim. “I think I’ll be set for the week.”

Arthur nodded in approval and held his hand out for you to take. Instead, you placed your hands along his horse’s rump and hoisted yourself up with one smooth motion.

You settled behind him once again and pointed westward. “We live that way, couple miles out of town.”

He didn’t hesitate to follow your direction, wasting no time to leave Valentine in his wake. The buildings gave way to an open field with trees in the distance, leading off to the mountains of West Elizabeth further out. It’d only taken an extra twenty minutes at a steady trot along the path until you instructed him to veer off into the trees, following a much narrower path. Up ahead, the forage began to thin out to a small field with what appeared to be a small house, and an even smaller barn sitting quaintly behind it.

He emerged from the tree line, allowing full sight of what he presumed was your home. The outside seemed to be kept neat and orderly, with an immaculate fence offset from the porch full of greenery. As he approached closer, he realized they were half-wilted.

“Home sweet home,” you sighed as you slid off the horse, stepping toward the house. Only to pause and look back at him. “Thank you so much, again. You’re the kindest person I’ve met out here so far.”

Arthur chuckled humorlessly at your comment. “Ah, I don’t know about that, ma’am.”

“Nonsense,” you brush away his refute. “You showed up at just the right time, I’m sure anyone else would have left me to the wolves, all for some stupid plants...” you glanced back toward the garden with a grimace before turning your attention back to him. “Hey, won’t you join me for dinner? I’d like to repay you.”

Arthur hadn’t expected that. Heading back out would be ideal, at least to try and hunt before evening settled in. He also hadn’t eaten since breakfast back at camp. Even though he had some fruit in his back, it would not be enough to satiate him for the next few hours.

Another thought crossed his mind. “Your husband won’t mind the company?” he carefully asked, knowing a face like his appearing in a comfortable homestead may be unsettling.

“Oh, he’s not home tonight, out doing business as usual,” you sighed. “I always make more than enough, just in case, but I’m tired of letting some of my hard work go to waste.”

Something about that statement irked Arthur. From the information you’ve told him so far, it seemed your husband was painfully oblivious to what life really was like out here, most likely having no inkling of his wife ignorantly exploring the wilderness just to make a tasty meal.

The rumble of his stomach cut his thoughts short, and he pressed a hand to his abdomen. It’d been at least a half-day since breakfast, and with the past hour or so spent on a detour, the opportunity for a hot meal was difficult to pass.

“Sure, why not?” he finally said. “I’ll have a plate.”

You flashed a beaming smile at him. “Excellent. Here...” You pointed to the small barn behind the house. “You can put your horse in there for a bit, I’m sure he’s just as hungry as you are. You can come in when you’re done.”

You turned on your heel, bounding up the porch steps to disappear behind a door. Arthur did as he was told, dismounting his horse and leading him toward the barn. He shoved the door open, peering into the tiny, two-stall building. One stall stood completely clean, devoid of any sign of use, while the other had a mess of half-eaten hay, most likely from the horse you’d claimed ran off earlier. He led the stallion into this stall, and the horse immediately dove into the hay.

Arthur patted the horse’s neck with a small smile. It wasn’t too often that a stranger’s hospitality also extended toward his steed as well. He left the stallion to enjoy the hay, stepping back out and heading toward the house.

He stepped onto the porch, panels creaking beneath his weight. The door opened easily, and he stepped inside, greeted by the cozy, bright interior. It was almost as if he stepped inside a dollhouse.

You were at the stove directly opposite him, leaning over a large pot, sprinkling a few leaves into what seemed to be a sort of stew. Upon his entrance, you turned and gave him another smile. “Won’t be much longer. If you’d like to wash up, there’s a wash basin in the next room,” you gestured with a flick of your head towards the right.

Arthur once again wordlessly followed your direction, setting his sights toward a door standing ajar in the corner. He absorbed the scenery before him as he moved. If he hadn’t known you were in the middle of the woods, he would have guessed he was somewhere like Blackwater. It was evident you were not ready to transition from your previous life, as almost every surface seemed to be meticulously kept and covered with décor.

He pushed the door open to reveal a bedroom that was oddly plain compared to what he’d just witnessed in the kitchen. The bed was neatly made, an oak armoire sitting directly across from it. In the corner next to him sat a small porcelain and golden wash basin, already filled with water.

He took caution when washing up, not to spill any dirty water upon the swept floors. Though he supposed it didn’t matter, given how much dust coated his worn leather boots. Once finished he made his way back into the kitchen, just in time to witness you ladle stew into two bowls. The small table was the only thing separating the two of you, and Arthur took a seat.

Placing a bowl in front of him, you moved to sit opposite. “It’s not much, but I hope you enjoy it.”

The savory aroma only made his stomach gurgle again. He peered down to observe the dish. The browned liquid swimming with a medley of vegetables and meat, with speckles of whichever herbs you’d added. He took a spoonful and placed it in his mouth, his tongue delightfully greeted with rich flavor.

Enjoying it was an understatement. He would have shoveled the whole damn thing into his mouth if maintaining politeness wasn’t a factor. “No complaints here, ma’am,” he said after swallowing. “This may be the best stew I’ve ever had.”

Your smile was bashful, but the light in your eyes told him how you appreciated the praise. “Glad to know my husband doesn’t lie to me when he says he likes my cooking,” you giggled lightly. “I appreciate it, Mister...” you trailed off, giving him a hopeful look for a proper introduction.

“Arthur,” he answered.

You nodded and gave him your name in response. “Thank you for not letting this go to waste.”

Offering a small smile, Arthur then took another bite. It was tempting to ask for the recipe to pass along to Pearson for ideas. “It’d be a shame, especially after almost gettin’ eaten.”

You giggled again, your voice ringing melodically. “Well Arthur, I’m glad you could join me for dinner after that nonsense. It gets quite lonely living out here sometimes.”

“Your husband often leaves you alone like this?” Arthur asked.

There was a pause. The open and friendly demeanor you possessed suddenly vanished as you sat up straight, giving him a cautious stare. “Don’t mistake my hospitality as vulnerability, Arthur. My husband may be away, but I promise you my intentions are not what you're assuming.”

Arthur was taken aback by this, having not realized his words might’ve had another meaning. “Oh no, ma’am!” He dropped his spoon and held his hands up defensively. “That ain’t what I meant at all, believe me. My intentions ain’t nothin’ of the sort.”

You seemed to be satisfied by his answer as the rigidity of your body eased, though the look of caution remained. “I’m no fool to the desires of men,” you say. “Doesn’t matter where I am, they’re almost always the same.”

As unfortunate as the statement was, Arthur had to agree with you. He’d witnessed it more times than he’d cared, though never taking part for himself. It was often those who held a position of power, abusing it as such to have their ways. He despised men of the sort. “You don’t have to worry, I swear I ain’t like that,” he responded.

The gaze you held on him was steady and scrutinizing, as if searching his face for any tale of a lie. Soon the lines of worry began to soften, your lips hinting the ghost of a smile. “I suppose I should believe you, otherwise you would’ve had me after taking care of the wolves. You’re a man of honor, Arthur.”

A dejected chuckle left his throat as he shook his head. He cared little to argue, as you’d only seen just a fraction of what he truly was. Had you known he was a wanted outlaw, your perspective would change in a heartbeat.

Still, he’d come across a myriad of people from different walks on his travels. Those who either welcomed him with open arms or pointed a gun to his face, most of which didn’t know his true identity, and they never had to, to determine what sort of person he was.

Without a reply, he settled into a comfortable silence to finish his meal. You simply followed suit, leaving the conversation to rest.

Arthur took his time with the stew, savoring every bite knowing he may not receive another one just as delicious. The sun settling through the west-facing window indicated just how much time has passed since this initial diversion. It had to be late afternoon now, had those last few hours flown by that quickly?

With the bowl empty and his once withering stomach now satisfyingly full, Arthur leaned back in his seat and gave a content sigh. “I suppose I should be gettin' back on the road,” he said to catch your attention.

You looked back up, and Arthur caught a flicker of emotion on your face, but you smiled before he could determine what it was exactly. “Of course, seems to be getting late,” you glanced at the window. “I hope I didn’t keep you from anything important.”

While it certainly took away a few hours' worth of hunting, he couldn’t readily admit that. You were kind enough to offer hospitality in return to his decided kindness, much different than a few billfolds or a piece of jewelry that would normally accompany these rare occasions. A full stomach and a rested horse, however, that was rare.

“Nothin’ too important,” Arthur assured you. While the camp’s coffer was low, there was no immediate need for fresh kill that same day. He could attempt to make it back up to Cumberland before nightfall and set up camp for a fresh start tomorrow.

You escorted him back to the barn where his horse was still working through the remnants of hay. The stallion left it rather reluctantly as Arthur pulled him back out into the open. As he mounted and glanced up at the sky, making a note of the time. It wasn’t quite sunset just yet; the bright blues were beginning to fade into a fiery orange.

“Thank you, again, Arthur,” your voice drew his attention. “Not just for helping me, but providing me with some company as well.”

Arthur nodded to you. “Try to stay outta trouble, miss.”

You giggled and shook your head bashfully. “I think today was enough trouble for a lifetime, I’ll be sticking to the safety of stores from now on.”

Arthur offered you a half-smile. “Good luck to you.” He bid his farewells and turned his horse away from the homestead, making his way back to the worn path.

---

The wooden shops and stands of Valentine were bathed in a slight golden glow, tale of the sunset to Arthur’s back by the time he’d reached the town again. He could travel just a little bit further and set up camp for the night for a fresh start tomorrow morning, but his mind had been elsewhere since he left your house.

The idea of a woman out of her element living away from civilization without protection didn’t sit right with him. He wondered how long it’d been since you settled out here, and how often your husband left you to your own devices. Had he not been there to rescue you today, how much time would have passed until your husband came home to an empty house, without a clue what happened?

How could that damn fool not know what he was getting himself into? A businessman had no business trying to adapt to the ways of the rugged.

Arthur shook his head to himself. The vulnerability you presented yourself with today would hopefully harden with more time spent out here, and preferably before you landed yourself into trouble again.

He sighed, skirting around the town rather than subjecting his horse to trot through that muck a second time. It was best to not worry about the affairs of strangers, especially those he may never even see again.

His thoughts occupied most of the remaining journey. The sky steadily darkened as the hour grew later, and the familiar reaches of the emerald pines that outlined Cumberland once again came into view. He considered taking the path back to those wolves, if scavengers hadn’t already begun to pick.

A yawn stopped that thought in his tracks. The day stretched longer than he intended, and the stew still sat heavy in his belly. It would be best to set up camp now.

He pulled away from the main path to disappear beneath the canopy of pine, locating just a clearing just large enough to hold a tent. He dismounted and immediately got to work, having his campsite completed just as the last of the daylight was swallowed by the mountains further West.

With his small tent set up and a meager campfire a striking amber against the inky landscape, fatigue began to settle in. The vestiges of stew finally departed his stomach, announcing its emptiness with a slight grumble. He wished he could have another bowl, but instead helped himself to a can of beans dug out of his satchel.

It was nowhere near as filling, but it was enough to draw out the tendrils of fatigue, and he turned in soon after to be lulled by nature’s melodies.

—-

Arthur awoke with an early start; the sky a pale gray with the hint of dawn. A perfect time for hunting, he thought, and with a quick helping of coffee, he grabbed his bow off his horse and set deeper into the woods.

He thanked Charles for the lessons in tracking; broken twigs and overturned leaf litter would have gone unnoticed by someone with an untrained eye. The trail was fairly fresh, and the wind carried the distinct echo of an elk’s call. He continued onward, ensuring his footfalls were light and as soundless as possible. It wasn’t much longer until he came upon a small clearing, a small herd of elk peacefully grazing and unaware of his presence.

Carefully removing the bow and an arrow from his back, he set it in place and drew the bowstring back, aiming for the closest. He had a clear shot straight to the head, and—

The elks’ heads suddenly shot up, ears pricked and eyes wide. At first Arthur thought he’d somehow startled them, but their attention was drawn in another direction. Within a heartbeat they turned and ran, heading deeper into the forest.

“Shit,” he hissed, standing up with frustration and regretted leaving his horse behind. He wondered if he could head back quickly to grab his stallion, perhaps he could pick up the trail again without the herd wandering too far ahead.

A flicker a movement in the corner of his eye caused him to turn his head, opposite where the elk ran. With a start he expected a predator. Instead, it was a horse.

Wild horses were not an uncommon sighting, especially further away from civilization. As the beast trotted into the clearing, its head held high, and ears pricked forward in alert. Arthur spotted a saddle on its back, a bridle with broken reins dragging through the brush. Its black and white coat stained a cool brown with mud.

He wondered what happened, and what poor soul was out there looking for their steed, if they were even still alive. As the horse slowed to a stop and dipped its head to graze, Arthur caught a glimpse of what looked like bundles of drying plants hanging from each side.

Something pricked in his mind. It was a sense of familiarity about it, even though he’d never seen this horse before. Something about the plants it carried...

And then it hit him. His encounter with you yesterday, you were gathering herbs and you mentioned your horse ran off, frightened by the pack of wolves. The chance of it belonging to someone else would be slim.

It made sense to find the steed out here, but he was surprised it hadn’t been cornered by other predators. It’d only been a day, though it would not last much longer with the weight of the saddle and the reins dangling so dangerously low.

He sighed, silently cursing himself for what he was about to do. He should just ignore the thing and continue hunting, but a tiny voice in the back of his mind told him otherwise. Securing the bow to his torso, he slowly stepped into the open.

The horse must’ve sensed him, as its head shot back up, its wide blue eyes directly onto him. Nostrils flared, expelling a loud snort, almost as if it were a dragon from a story book.

“Easy there,” Arthur cooed, his voice low and even. He watched as every muscle tensed, ready to turn and sprint off. “Easy...” he repeated.

The horse stared unblinkingly as he approached, inch by inch, hands reaching up slowly. Arthur silently willed it not to run. He was just a few feet away, and he went to reach for one of the reins still on the ground.

The horse flinched, and Arthur froze, holding his breath. Thankfully, it didn’t take off.

“You’re alright...” he said softly, waiting for another second before moving again. With a stroke of luck, he swiftly grabbed the broken rein. The horse didn’t offer another reaction, though still watched with wide eyes as Arthur patted its sweaty neck. He took a cursory glance underneath, and said, “Good girl.”

The mare seemed to relax at his touch, and Arthur finally noted the sheen of sweat against her dirty coat. A layer of foam outlined the breast collar and the girth. It seemed the poor girl was running for a while and had only stopped just at the right moment.

He ran his fingers against her velvet muzzle, feeling her hot breath as she attempted to sniff him. “Why don’t I take you home?” he said to her. “I’m sure there’s someone that misses ya.”

—-

A gentle breeze stirred the surrounding treetops, filling the air with a soft rustle of leaves and branches. It was a crisp wind; something you had yet to get used to. The grip on the shawl upon your shoulders tightened. As beautiful as your home was, you wished it would just be a little warmer.

You stood up from the rocking chair perched upon your porch, itching for something to do. Boredom occupied most of your time since moving out here, between washing windowpanes and cooking with the same ingredients day in and day out. You insisted on possibly finding a job, a seamstress or a maid perhaps, but your husband Frederick detested this, adamantly reminding you he would earn more than enough to support the two of you.

Oftentimes you would cure your restlessness by taking a short ride with your mare, but even that was ripped away by yesterday’s escapades. Frederick paid a pretty penny for that Criollo coming from the beautiful livery in Saint Denis, stopping when only learning she was imported straight from South America. That mare had quickly bonded with you and became your only friend since the move.

But now she was gone, most likely enjoying her sudden freedom, or worse—

Slamming your hand onto a pillar severed that train of thought. You instead focused on the meager herb garden, once leafy green stalks now an ugly brown and wilted. You sighed; gardening was never your forte and prior to last week, you were quite proud of your crop. The adjustment from comfortable civilization to a homestead in the middle of the wilderness wasn’t a smooth transition. You longed for your old home, your old town, and your mundane yet comfortable life.

A shudder rocked through your body. Until recently, you’d been immune and willfully ignorant of the dangers lurking in the shadows, stalking in the trees, waiting for the opportune moment to pounce. Though you often wished for something exciting to break the otherwise monotonous day-to-day, having nearly died at the salivating fangs of those wolves was enough excitement for a lifetime.

You were beyond thankful for that man, Arthur, for coming to your rescue. He had no business helping you the way he did, and you weren’t ignorant of that. You caught the hesitation in his voice, the flicker in his eyes, the judgmental tone he held when you explained the situation. He most likely saw you as an inconvenience. Regardless, the pity he bestowed on you was enough to ensure you were safe.

Although unlikely, you hoped you would see him again at least once. He was the first person to show you true kindness and didn’t dare to take advantage of yours. It was a true rarity to come across someone to possess such redeeming qualities.

The faint rustle of bushes caught your attention, but only for a brief second. Wildlife was plentiful around here, usually in the form of squirrels, rabbits, and the occasional deer or Pronghorn. The coyote yips and yowls often sounded off in the distance during the night, but you never once saw them cross the threshold of your property while you or Frederick were outside.

A flicker of movement swept your gaze to the side. Too large for a coyote or even a deer, your heart skipped a beat in apprehension. Was your husband home? Or worse, more wolves somehow tracked your scent?

From the tree line stepped out a horse, its dappled gray coat standing stark against the emerald shrubbery. Its rider was an unexpectedly welcome sight.

“Arthur?” you said in surprise, allowing yourself to relax. He seemed to have something in his hand, and what followed surprised you even more.

Your horse.

Your mouth fell open in pure shock. You blinked multiple times, as if the sight before you were a hallucination. But surely enough, Arthur gave you a small smile and stopped just a few feet before your porch steps.

“Hope you don't mind the intrusion,” he said. “Found this girl up in Cumberland Forest.”

You bounded down the steps wordlessly, your mouth still gaped. “What—” you took a sharp breath. “How did you know...” That was my horse? You finished the question without speaking.

Arthur shrugged, turning to look at the mare. “I saw her lookin’ a little distressed, like she’d been runnin’ all night. Then I saw the bundles of herbs on the saddle, could only guess who she belonged to,” he held out one of the leather reins, which you took instantly, running your shaking free hand along the mare’s painted coat.

You truly thought the worst for this poor creature, and if it hadn't yet again been for this kind stranger, your fears might as well have manifested one way or another. “T-thank you Arthur, thank you!” You gave him a wide smile. How could you repay him this time? The remaining stew from yesterday had been almost completely diminished throughout the bitterly cold night following, and you were sure he wasn't going to wait around for another batch, as much as you saw that he enjoyed the first.

Your eyes wandered to the now dried bundles of leaves still strapped on either side of your saddle. While the shop trip from yesterday was enough to replenish your pantry, this addition would keep you from venturing out again for a while. Yesterday’s events definitely gave you a more wary eye.

Eyes on him again, quickly observing the faded tan jacket and the even more worn hat concealing his gaze. A bow was strapped across his back, and the gleam of a silver revolver shone from the holster adorning his waist. This was a man well-traveled, well versed and not afraid of life’s dangers. A spike of envy roiled in your stomach, wishing you had half the nerve he did.

It then occurred to you that it’d been a moment since you last spoke, and as if Arthur read your mind, he cleared his throat and glanced over his shoulder.

“I oughta start—”

“Wait!”

Arthur froze, turning to look at you again. You surprised yourself, having uttered this word without even thinking. Quickly, you composed yourself and continued, “Thank you again, Arthur. You’ve done more than you realize...” you paused as your mare nudged you gently, as if pressing you on. “I...I don’t have any stew prepared, but you’re welcome to stop by anytime if you’re hungry. I can whip up something.”

His hand raised as if to wave away the offer, but you continued before he had the chance. “I insist,” you add. “Between saving my life and my horse’s, it’s the least I can do! And your horse...” you reached over to pat the gorgeous Andalusian. “Is welcome to take a rest in the barn as well. I don’t mind.”

Arthur looked as if he were going to argue, mouth opening, but paused. For a few long seconds he seemed thoughtful, and finally said, “That’s real kind of ya, thank you.”

You smiled widely at him. Shortly after he bid his goodbyes and turned around, you watching until the silvery swishing tail of his horse disappeared into the trees once again. You turned to your mare, relieved to have her back and simultaneously avoiding that awkward conversation for once your husband came back home as to why she was missing.

“We’re lucky Arthur came to our rescue, huh?” you say to her, running your hand along her velvet muzzle.

#Arthur Morgan #arthur morgan x reader #arthur morgan x female reader

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lukedanger · 2 months ago

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Owlcatober - Day 4 - Aim and Fire

Day four of @owlcatober, shifting to the grim darkness of a future that will hopefully never be...

[Ao3 Link]

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There were many entertainments for the magnae accessio, especially in the noble reception for those who were ranked high enough within the Rogue Trader’s protectorate. And with the new Rogue Trader a former general of the Imperial Guard along with the Expanse being under threat from all sides, Clementia had suggested martial entertainment to bring it to the minds of the nobility. Tessera had agreed, but with so many other things to worry about had delegated the task.

Though as Tessera looked at the ghastly display, she was not sure that this was something direct attention would have fixed. Prisoners were tied up against a specific wall of the palace gardens, and the nobility were firing lasguns at them. Heretics, pirates, Drukhari captives who hadn’t been executed after their failed attack were used as targets with equal disdain.

As she watched the noble guests miss shot after shot, laughing all the while, Tessera began to wonder if perhaps the next piece of noble entertainment needed to be a hunt. Perhaps with them as the hunted, if this was the best Dargonus could offer.

“A little better, and they’ll make a guardsman out of you yet!” one noble taunted, watching his wife (Sister? Both?) in a fancy red dress large enough to serve as concealment for a soldier nearly lose her grip on her lasgun. The shot had gone well overhead of her target.

Another noble, a young man with a cybernetic eye and a cocksure grin, casually picked up a las-pistol and tried to shoot the Drukhari, only for the burst to spray everywhere. Pity the machine spirit grafted to a man whom ignored its advice.

So it went on - the nobles having a laugh and occasionally getting lucky to great cheers as another life ended. Tessera watched, hoping for an at least somewhat practical use of this spectacle. A young heir being blooded in a safe condition by their mentors so they would be ready for the hell that was the galaxy. An attempt to educate on weak spots (particularly as they left the current Drukhari target in her armor when tying her up) or the most efficient way to dispatch a target. Even just trying to get some range time in with a live target, anything.

The range master, to his credit, seemed embarrassed as Tessera turned her attention to him. His face turned red under her gaze, especially as one noble almost burned himself ejecting a spent power pack without keeping his hand clear. And as soon as he moved to try and call a halt for the sake of range safety when another put their hand near the barrel, the watching crowd jeered for him to leave them to their fun.

Tessera had enough. She strode to the range, grabbed the long-las when she reached the table, checked the power pack, disengaged the safety (unnecessarily, as the fools left it off), and took aim at the center victim, calculations running through her neural augments. She pulled the trigger once, then aimed for the heretic on the right. Fire. Finally, she aimed for the drukari raider, and put her down.

Three times she aimed. Three times she fired. Three times enemies of humanity died.

And as her awareness shifted back to her audience, she could hear the cheering of the fools who celebrated their master and protector.

“Excellent shots, your grace!” greeted one noble wearing a voluminous dress to obscure his mass, “Truly, you are blessed by the Emperor for your aim!”

Tessera inhaled, looking at them. Wastrels. “The Emperor indeed blesses us, for your talents are not wasted among the Astra Militarum. Such targets are rare, noble peers, and should be used as an opportunity to learn.”

The sycophants all politely clapped as if she had just given them some grand compliment and hidden wisdom. Tessera looked at the range master, who gave her a sad shake of his head, and she turned away.

At least now she knew where she would not look for new officers for the Protectorate’s armsmen.

#owlcatober 2024 #rogue trader #warhammer 40k

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damienf519 · 10 months ago

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$ LOST WAGES $ WIP - NEW LAS VEGAS INSPIRED SIMS 3 WORLD - BETA AVAILABLE

Turns out the Sims Forum is shutting down, so I'm going to repost this here in it's entirety

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$ Lost Wages $ is a beautiful city in the middle of the desert where sims can gamble away their life savings! Here are some early screenshots. I really hope you guys enjoy this. Its been a long time since I made a desert themed world, and If I was going to build a Sims 3 world around gambling, of course it was going to have to be inspired by Las Vegas. Here are some early screenshots. Keep in mind this is still a work in progress. The link to the first Beta is located in the first reply below. ( Only if we're talking about the SimsForum, otherwise it's right here ) The final version will also include a saved game file and some additional lots by CJplays.

Here's a link to the first Beta. Before you download the world it requires, all expansion packs, plus the vanilla version of Lucky Palms, Let it Ride Roulette Table, The Dead Man's Hand Poker Table, and the Triple Rich Slot O' Jackpot's Slot Machine. One of the lots also uses the Boardwalk and World of Wonders sets.

The world also uses the following free store content. 1) Annie's Well Organized Shelf 2) Weba Yayfoo 3) In The Dawn of Sims 4) The Sims Strike Back 5) Let There Be Sims 6) Happy ST. Patrick's Day 7) Harvest Bounty 8) Fall Frultion 9) Modern HDTV by Websta Industries 10) Happy Valentines Day 11) Gifts for the Holidays 12) Honeycomb Bookshelf 13) Tis The Season for Gift Giving 14) Earth Day 15) Explorers' Loot 16) No Tricks Just Treats 17) Halloween Treats 18) Happy Halloween Gory Goodies 19) More Halloween Treats 20) Eye of the Bolder '10 21) More Holiday Presents 22) Kalliopi's Gifts

You can download it here $ Lost Wages $ Beta A https://www.mediafire.com/file/c7j3nkt1madnti0/%24_Lost_Wages_%24_Beta_A.zip/file

#sims 3 #the sims 3 #damienf519 #cjplays #caw #create a world #custom lots #custom worlds #No CC #Las Vegas #Lost Wages #$ Lost Wages $#Gambling #Sims Forums #EA #Maxis #Download

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wilygryphon · 1 year ago

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Kingdom Hearts - Christmas Hearts

A Kingdom Hearts Christmas one-shot that I posted on FFN and AO3 two years ago. I figure 'tis the season to share it here.

Summary: The Guardians of Light celebrate Christmas at the Land of Departure. They open presents, take pictures, tell stories, have a magical airstepping snowball fight, and enjoy being together on the most magical day of the year.

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Sunlight shone through the stained glass windows into the castle on the Land of Departure, reflecting off of the ornaments and tinsel that decorated a magnificent pine tree that was erected in the audience chamber. Several gift-wrapped boxes sat under the tree, enough for a large group of people. Fourteen stockings were hooked onto the railing on one side of the chamber, each colored and embroidered to indicate whose it was. There were also two smaller stockings for Jiminy Cricket and Chirithy. A large stellated crystal of Orichalcum was mounted on top of the tree as the star.

The castle’s clock tower bell rang, echoing throughout the castle to announce the morning. Smaller bells chimed in tune with classic carols. Each of the castle’s occupants woke up, some with the aid of Chirithy, who bounced on top of the late sleepers until they were finally up. Ventus was the first one down to the chamber, still the physically-youngest and most evidently childish-at-heart. He was joined by: Sora and Kairi; Mickey, Donald, and Goofy, with Jiminy tagging along in Mickey’s pocket; Aqua and Terra; Roxas and Xion; Riku and Naminé; and Lea and Isa.

“Morning, guys,” Lea said, yawning. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas!” everyone replied.

“Jeez, Ven. You think your Chirithy could bounce any harder?” Lea complained. “It felt like he was this close to breaking my ribs.”

Chirithy appeared in Ventus’ arms in a puff of smoke. “If you’d rather skip opening presents, then I won’t bother waking you up next time,” he remarked. Ventus laughed while Isa chuckled.

“Well, since we’re all down here, why don’t we see what Santa put in our stockings?” Aqua suggested.

Everyone scrambled to their stockings and took out the gifts that were stuffed inside. They all had candy and (with the exception of Goofy and Jiminy) chocolate; there was a Santa hat and a jingle bell sash for everyone; the Keyblade wielders all got a new Keychain that would give their Keyblades a holiday-themed form; everyone had a chibi plush doll that looked like them; Jiminy’s stocking had a brand new umbrella, while Chirithy’s included a festive cape and Lux pouch. They looked up and said “Thanks, Santa,” sure that the jolly man in red could hear them.

Next, Aqua passed presents around to everyone. Sora’s gift from Riku was a digital watch that would sync up to the time zones of each world. Sora and Kairi traded gifts, Sora giving Kairi a Crystal Regalia + bracelet and Kairi giving Sora a Cosmic Belt. Sora gifted Donald a new hockey stick and Goofy a new tackle box. Mickey gave Riku a new jacket. Terra gifted Ventus a Nintendo Switch. Roxas gave each of his friends a Struggle Bat and accompanying gear. Naminé gave everyone a scrapbook filled with her drawings of each of them. Kairi gave Naminé a new set of colored pencils; Riku gave her a new satchel for her drawing tablet and utensils; Sora gave her a new expansion pack for her tabletop RPG (Tidus had introduced it to her at school, and she turned out to be a surprisingly good DM). Lea gave Isa a tea set. Isa gave Xion a fantasy romance novel. Mickey gave Jiminy a new journal while Sora gave him a new scrapbook. The Keyblade wielders as well as Donald received a book on magic spells and lore from Merlin. Every human-sized person received a GummiPad from Ienzo. Donald received a Junior Woodchucks craft from his nephews and a first aid kit from Webby Vanderquack, the latter of which made Sora and Goofy laugh out loud. Leon sent them all Christmas sweaters. Sora found a gift from Ariel that contained a music box.

They sorted their gifts and disposed of the wrapping paper, then put on their sweaters, sashes, and Santa hats (and Chirithy’s Christmas cape and pouch). Sora held his Gummiphone on a selfie stick and took a group photo in front of the Christmas tree, then they all took separate pictures.

“You met Santa?” Ventus asked, amazed, as the group sat around the dining room table eating their breakfast of omelettes, French Toast, and home fries.

“Yeah. We first went there when I was fifteen,” Sora recounted. “First we’d gone to Halloween Town, then saw Jack Skellington preparing for Christmas instead of Halloween. He then led us to Christmas Town to meet Santa.”

“Sora got scolded,” Donald teased.

“Really? I would have thought you would have a permanent spot on the Nice List,” Terra remarked.

Sora chuckled awkwardly. “Well, he brought up the one time I told everyone that I didn’t believe in Santa Claus,” he admitted sheepishly.

“WHAT?!” Ventus and Xion blurted. Aqua gasped, similarly shocked.

“It was Riku’s fault in the first place,” Sora grumbled. Riku and Kairi laughed.

“So there’s a Halloween Town and a Christmas Town? I think I would like to visit those places someday,” Aqua said.

“Maybe we’ll take you to visit next year,” Goofy suggested.

“Great idea,” Roxas said.

“I don’t suppose you had Christmas when you were in the Organization,” Riku remarked.

“Well, we got a day off once a year,” Isa explained. “That was on the twenty-fifth of December, aligned with Twilight Town’s calendar. I addressed this fact when I noticed it, and Xemnas permitted a single day with no mission. I suppose that his intention of giving us a break on Christmas Day was to remind us of what we lacked in order to give us further encouragement to complete Kingdom Hearts.”

Everyone fell silent as they processed that statement, reflecting on the true purpose of the Organization that Xemnas/Xehanort had intended. Donald crossed his arms and sank back into his chair. “Humbug,” he muttered.

“You could say that again,” Roxas agreed.

They found more cheerful topics to discuss for the rest of breakfast and for much of the morning, including: how Terra, Ventus and Aqua celebrated Christmas before the Mark of Mastery exam (the tactful way in which Riku described the turning point); how Christmas was celebrated on Destiny Islands, in Daybreak Town (for Ventus and Chirithy to answer), and (mostly for the benefit of Kairi and her still-hazy memories) in Radiant Garden; and what everyone’s favorite Christmas songs were.

“Hey, guys!” Lea called, getting everyone’s attention. He pointed out the window. “You see all this snow outside? I’d say it looks perfect for a snowball fight.”

Sora, Riku and Roxas grinned. “You’re on!” Sora said. They all put on coats, gloves, and boots and ran outside. There was four inches of snow on the ground, a shining white blanket that covered the mountain islands. Snow also covered the roof and window sills of the castle. As soon as he was outside, Sora did a backflip and pushed himself off of the wall, launching himself across the forecourt. He packed together a snowball on landing and spun around to throw it at Riku, who was making a snowball of his own to retaliate.

Everyone spread out, going all in on the attack. They each sometimes focused on one adversary in particular, and other times briefly grouped up to gang up on someone. They all ran around to dodge snowballs and attack from different angles. Sora, Riku, Roxas, Aqua, and Ventus leapt through the air and ran up and down the side of the castle to take the snowball fight to the skies, leaving the others to watch from the ground and laugh as their friends glided and airstepped all over the place and snowballs arced through the air (although Donald regretted this when a stray(?) snowball dropped down and hit him square in the face). Everyone on the ground got back into the action when Naminé, who up to that point had simply sat on the steps in front of the door and watched, threw a snowball at Terra from behind.

When they were all tired from the snowball fight, they stumbled back inside, laughing, and took off their outdoor clothing. As they passed through the foyer, Kairi caught Sora by the hand and stopped him, then pointed up to show him that they were standing under the mistletoe. They laughed and then kissed. “Merry Christmas,” they said to each other. After seeing this, the other couples decided to follow their example, and Riku and Naminé, Roxas and Xion, Aqua and Terra, and Lea and Isa shared their own kisses under the mistletoe.

The gang was truly glad to be together on the day that was all about sharing the light in their hearts. It truly was the most wonderful time of the year.

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omegaversetheory · 2 years ago

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New Headcanon time: some countries have a culture of scentlessness where it is considered rude to not wear scent nullifiers. Only unpresented children can go around with their scent, because it allows distressed children to get help.

Also heats come in two basic types: the breeding heats everyone is familiar with, and comfort heats, which are social events meant to help bond the pack better. Heats can transition from one type to another during heat. Due to this, Omegas really don't do well in heat alone.

Love thissss.

my expansion on both hcs -

This culture/group of people values privacy and respect. I saw this thing on tiktok once, about being an "ask" or a "guess" person. Well, everybody here is pretty much "guess". Being forward with your feelings, emotions, and thoughts are seen as invasive, impolite, and intrusive. Depending on the classification of the culture (traditional, contemporary, etc...) it might also be tied to scents being seen as "animalistic" and "outdated". It's simply not proper to be smelling everyone, just like it's no longer proper to...let your sewage just collect in the streets.

breeding heats = what most people think of when they think of a heat. Comfort heats on the other hand are never sexualized, but like you mentioned can turn into the traditional heat sometimes. A comfort heat happens when an omega is feeling big negative emotions. The people they trust and love most will come sit with them for a while, not days but hours for sure, as a form of hug/touch therapy.

#omegaversetheory #omegaverse #a/b/o #omegaverse au #omegaversedyanmics #a/b/o headcanons #omegaverse headcanons #a/b/o au #a/b/o dynamics #new headcanon drop #thanks anon these are super neat and I WILL be implementing them

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thebramblewood · 1 year ago

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Thank you to @venriliz for tagging me! I'll tag @thecrumblingisle, @sweetbeagaming, @cactusblossom, @simatomica, @10000dreams, @solarlemonade, @lotuso3o, @cinnamonferns but feel free to ignore! I know it's a long one.

1. What’s your favorite sims death? Oh my god, I forgot the running with scissors death in TS2 existed until @venriliz mentioned it, but that made me remember I once killed off an unwanted legacy heir using that method. :/ Don't ask me why I couldn't just move him out and leave him to his own devices. Anyway, I think death by cowplant is pretty classic.

My LEAST favorite Sims death is freezing because I had a really traumatic experience in the second generation of my legacy where my Sim Phoebe made the bright decision to host a birthday party for one of her housemates at the Bluffs in Windenburg in the dead of winter and everyone decided to start swimming and like three people froze to death, including the birthday girl. It remains a horrifically vivid memory to this day, lmao.

Putting the rest under a cut!

2. Alpha CC or Maxis Match? Maxis Match for the most part. I find that anything alpha just ends up looking too out of place unless it's closer to the Maxis side of the spectrum.

3. Do you cheat when your sims gain weight? If it fits their lifestyle, I'll have them work out/eat healthier, but I try not to interfere otherwise.

4. Do you use move objects? Absolutely, it's permanently activated!

5. Favorite mod? MCCC is obviously essential, as well as anything that makes CAS better looking and more efficient. I also wouldn't play without Sunblind these days! I can't get enough of those gorgeous sunrises and sunsets.

6. First expansion/game/stuff pack you got? I think I got City Living and Seasons at the same time. I was kind of a late adapter to TS4 but fell very quickly down the rabbit hole.

7. Do you pronounce “live mode” like aLIVE or LIVing? I want to think I pronounce it like LIVing because I know that's technically correct, but I think half the time I still pronounce it like aLIVE in my head.

8. Who’s your favorite sim that you’ve made? Oh, this is so hard... If we're going solely on Sims who originated in CAS, there aren't really many options! Most of my Sims have been born in-game. I am really proud of Helena, and I think everyone can tell how attached I've become to her. Hmm, I need to make more Sims, I guess.

9. Have you made a simself? Noooooooooo. The Sims for me is very much an escape from myself, so I don't think I ever will.

10. What sim traits did you give yourself? I would probably give myself music lover, perfectionist, and socially awkward.

11. What is your favorite EA hair color? The lightest blond, I think? The one that looks almost platinum and isn't quite as yellowy as some of the others.

12. Favorite EA hair? That short choppy hair from Cottage Living (the one the Creature Keeper has). For a while, I was absolutely eating up every single variation I could find.

13. Favorite life stage? If I'm being honest, young adult. I find that my gameplay is most varied and interesting when my Sims are in that stage because they're traveling, meeting a lot of people, trying new things, etc. Once my Sims settle down and start a family, it's easy for me to forget places and people outside their home lot exist and everything becomes more routine.

14. Are you a builder or are you in it for the gameplay? Me, a builder? That's a funny joke. I'm definitely more in it for gameplay and storytelling. I'll do everything I can to avoid building a lot myself. I don't mind redoing interiors, but it takes me forever, so I try to limit how often I do that, too.

15. Are you a CC creator? No. I've done a couple very basic recolors/edits for myself. We're talking kindergarten level stuff. I don't really have the willpower for learning anything more complex right now.

16. Do you have any simblr friends/a sim squad? Sim squad is such a weird term to me. I do still feel like a bit of an outsider in the Simblr community at times, but I also have a handful of mutuals who I've enjoyed connecting with, and it always makes me happy to see them in my notes and on my dash!

17. What’s your favorite game? The only games I've ever been heavily into are The Sims and those Nancy Drew computer games... I think you can guess which one is my favorite. But if we narrow down the franchise, The Sims 2 has a very special place in my heart.

18. Do you have any Sims merch? No.

19. Do you have a YouTube for sims? No, and as someone who can't stand hearing or seeing recordings of myself, it would be a nightmare.

20. How has your “sim style” changed throughout your years of playing? I've honestly wondered about this myself! I don't think it's really changed so much as become more refined. I don't make a ton of Sims, so I don't think I have an obvious aesthetic style. But my play style has definitely changed in that it's more storytelling-geared, which does mean I spend less time actually using gameplay mechanisms and more time setting up. My visual style (e.g. composition, editing, etc.) has definitely evolved a lot even over the past few months.

21. What’s your Origin ID? Going to pass on this one! My sister and I share an account, and I don't upload anything on the gallery anyway.

22. Who’s your favorite CC creator? Oh, so many! I will download basically anything that sforzcc or softerhaze upload. My absolute favorite hair creators are simstrouble and okruee. And I've been using a ton of stuff from awingedllama and leaf-motif when decorating lately. But those are just a few that come to mind.

23. How long have you had a simblr? I only just started my Simblr back in January or February. But I've been on Tumblr itself way too long to admit out loud.

24. How do you edit your pictures? I try to let Reshade do the heavy lifting, but I also like using a few of these actions in Photoshop to make them pop a bit more.

25. What expansion/game/stuff pack is your favorite so far? City Living because San Myshuno is one of the only worlds that really feels "alive" to me and I think it does festivals best, and Cottage Living because it's the complete opposite but the slowed down, quiet, countryside aesthetic is so serene and relaxing.

26. What expansion/game/stuff pack do you want next? I don't trust EA to do it right, but all I want is bands and another super dense and populated urban world and more apartments! I would also never like to see another world inspired by an American suburb again.

#i am almost physically incapable of giving a concise answer to anything!#asks

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balladofthewhitehorse · 1 year ago

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Hi! Tell us more about The History of Romance, A Cat Named Hilda and The Longow please!

Of course!

The History Of Romance

Okay so, this idea came to me when I was reading about the invention of the telephone if I remember correctly. One thing led to another and I was wondering how people would send messages to one another over long distances. I love England and Portugal, and how their relationship is tied together with their alliance; I also think that their personalities - while sometimes clashing, mesh well together, and therefore I was like: 'How does this effect how they talk to each other?' So essentially, I'm thinking that it'll go from things like portraiture (which appearantly the big thing to do for nobles in love was to commission and send paintings of *yourself* to the person you loved, which is. wild to me. it's like the old version of the dick pic). To letters and poems. To telephone calls and telegrams. To the *text message.* Plus, I think England and his attitude towards technology is something I need to desperately write more of - cos essentially, I think he bemoans the invention of the mobile phone and signs them off like he's writing a letter. like 'Dear Portugal, I love you. I am hoping you're looking forward to the resturant this weekend and I have brought a new shirt for the evening. Miss you, *please* reply as soon as you see this and *not* a few days later. Sincerely and best wishes, Kingdom Of England' (Kingdom of England being the full name of the country in *technicality*, England's strange like that.) While Portugal replies 'ILY2' (not to say that Portugal doesn't love England! In this situation, it's more likely Portugal was the one who came up with the idea of going to a resturant *and* Portugal will turn up with lots of love to give! He's just not very talkative over text and I think he fell hard for those wonderful acronyms <3)

A Cat Named Hilda

I have the Sims 4 and the only expansion I got with it was the cats and dogs expansion pack. I decided to make England in the game (his human name is Edmund Sharpe - I do not like the name Arthur Kirkland, it's a personal opinion thing) and he adopted a cat while in the park. The cat was called Hilda and looked to be a point of some kind, and was described as 'troublesome, affectionate and curious'. Oh, and she was scared of the TV for some reason. Wonderful <3 England in the game, by the way, had anger issues. He would vent so angrily and stomp around the house - but kept stopping to randomly pet the cat. So you had this angry man, grumbling and having literal *steam* coming out of his ears, stopping to *tenderly* pick up his cat and cuddle it. He would also talk to the cat, gesticulating wildly. As you can imagine, I was inspired. The idea of this moody, stormy and quite frankly - arsehole, of an immortal being - being so gentle and kind to a random stray cat was so endearing to me. I might change the cat's name to something else (as in the game, she was already Hilda - but I'm not sure *why* England would name her that? I want it to be something that makes sense for the guy - so suggestions would be appreciated <3)

The Longbow

This behemoth I've rewritten already. I actually had a chapter 1 of it posted on my blog (I *think* I deleted it - I can't remember) as well as AO3; But, my HCs changed a lot since that chapt so I decided to scrap it and try again. Each chapter is going to start with some information on *longbows* - which, while you've likely heard of *English* Longbowmen, the actual invention of the longbow goes to the *Welsh.* The Welsh were already famous archers and they were used during the Hundred Years War, where the English started to use the longbow - and then the English obsession with them cranked up a notch. For a while, every Englishman was required to know how to draw a bow and it was *strictly* enforced to the point where the bones of English archers began to change! Hell, we almost ran out of yew-trees cos of HOW many we needed to make the longbows themselves! So I thought it was an apt weapon as a connection between England and Wales - a Welsh creation that was taken up by England. Wales teaching England to draw a bow - something that would *save his life in many situations.* Here's a snippet:

‘’What are you apologising for?’’ Cymru murmured as they stepped into the threshold of their small, hunting shelter; Beams of yew and oak criss-crossed the ceiling, herbs hung in aromatic bundles as tools and weapons were tucked far above prying, juvenile hands (she had not forgotten the day that England had cut the tip of his finger off, grasping at an axe that he was never meant to get his hands on). ‘’Is it about the rabbit?’’ She breathed out, tilting her head inquiringly as she set herself before the firepit; Arms opened to receive him - teary eyes and all. ‘’For God’s sake, I was just-’’ Cymru shook her head, hugging the boy close. ‘’Eng…’’

England slumped against Wales, sniffling noisily as he shook his head. ‘’N-nothing to do with the rabbit.’’ Honestly, he’d forgotten that they had been hunting at all on the way back home. It was hard to bite back the tears, budding forth like a spring meadow. Rubbing his eyes furiously, England looked up hopefully at Wales - dredging up what little courage he had, words heavy in his throat as he shook his head furiously in the end. Wales was the one with the beautiful voice, always braver with words than he ever dared to be - and England felt sheepish at once, a red-hot flush travelling up his neck as he swallowed a lump in his throat.

He grasped the edge of his tunic, the rough wool rubbing against the palm of his hands. ‘’Let's talk about something else.’’ England mumbled softly, guilt laden like a stone (like a sword, heavy at his hip). There was a soft crack, the first embers taking hold in the firepit as the shelter grew a little lighter - chasing shadows into spidery corners. ‘’I-I forgot what it was.’’ England murmured lamely, pushing his forehead against Wales chest and sighing. ‘’Sorry.’’

Cymru knew at once what England had meant. She sighed, feeling her heart get a little heavier and sink to the pit of her belly, shadows drawn into deep furrows as she frowned. He felt light in her arms as she drew him closer, gaze trawling to the dark corners of their little shelter - as if she saw Wessex, propped up by a bloodied sword. ‘’Hm, fine.’’ She replied tersely, stroking England’s hair gently. ‘’Let’s talk about how you missed that rabbit then.’’ He squirmed in her arms, grumbling something or other about how she’d put him under pressure and made him muck it up, bottom lip pushed out moodily. ‘’Stop grumbling. This is the third time…I can’t possibly be distracting you that much-’’

‘’-But you are!’’ England bleated defensively. Cymru sighed, frustration clawing at her ribs as she felt her cheeks pink. ‘’Do you ever practise?’’ She retorted, glaring at him. ‘’Wessex should be teaching you these things-’’ Why on Earth she was the one saddled with England was lost on Cymru, who found herself equal-parts enamoured and enraged towards the small boy in her lap. It was never simple, a mantra that Cymru found herself repeating over and over, a mantra that Gwynedd had taught her a long, long time ago. A mantra that Cymru found herself repeating more often.

‘’Hey-!’’ England squeaked, whirling around to grasp Wales’ hands as she snagged his hair. ‘’I do practise-!’’ Cheeks ruddied with embarrassment, he slowly pulled himself upright and crossed his arms - chest puffed and bold. ‘’And Wessex teaches me loads-!’’ England insisted, watching as Wales slowly stood up - and suddenly, England felt very small indeed.

‘’Right,’’ Cymru snorted, eyes narrowing as molten iron poured through her veins; Liquid malice as she looked at the boy and saw Wessex’s eyes staring back at her. Mercia, Kent, Northumbria…how many were there again? Too many, Cymru thought resentfully, and he was just one more trouble piled atop many - and so young too, not even a true country yet. It wasn’t too late, the warrior mused, he could still be defeated - and the firepit was so hot. ‘’Like what? How to fail at catching rabbits?’’ Cymru ground out, hands balling into fists as she drew in a deep breath, shaking her head gravely. Someday, he’ll catch one and it’ll be too late. His people still quarrelled, Cymru knew that - From across the border, just past Offa’s Dyke were whispers of conflict and complex politics (all of whom she doubted England understood). They rallied like quivering spears, liable to be knocked down by a gale - and if she was to be that errant wind, then so be it; Better him, than her.

#hws england #hws wales

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callunasims · 2 years ago

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Sims 4 Rankings | Expansion Packs

I've judged the expansion packs based on their game play, their BB and CAS items, their generality (meaning how well the pack fits with the other packs/worlds), and monetary value. Remember that this is all opinion based, and your opinion may differ!

12. Eco Living

This pack introduced new gameplay in which sims can produce their own electricity. How they choose to do this can impact the world of Evergreen Harbor. There is also craftables (juice fizzing, candle making), voting, dumpster diving, and a new career (Civil Designer). The pack also came with a world, Evergreen Harbor, but it is small with only 9 residential lots, two of which are apartments.

There are some nice build/buy and create-a-sim items, but they aren't items I use much in the game. The CAS items are a bit grungy (which may be your thing!) and the build/buy items are very contemporary/modern (also might be your thing!), neither of which are my favorite types of items to use.

Voting, crafting, dumpster diving and alternative energy production are all available in other Sims 4 worlds, and depending on your build style or favorite clothing styles, the BB and CAS items can fit into most builds outside of Evergreen Harbor nicely. However, a big contributor to the low score of this pack is that influencing the pollution level of the world is only tied to Evergreen Harbor, which means that aspect of the gameplay is limited. This may be a bug, but voting cannot seem to be turned off successfully, even when it is disabled in the game options menu.

I would wait to purchase this pack on sale, or skip it altogether. A big part of the gameplay selling point (the pollution) is tied to one world, the world is pretty small with few lots, the pack is bugged where voting cannot be disabled and... not gonna lie, the meat walls and the bug eating aspects are pretty disgusting.

11. Island Living

There was very little gameplay introduced in this pack as well. Canoeing, swimming in the ocean, and interactions with dolphins were added, but this was all tied to Sulani. There was one new career (conservationist) and 4 new jobs (fishing job, diving job, lifeguard job, and gig-style odd jobs). There were also pit barbecues and sunburns added, and some world-related folklore. There was a new occult added as well - mermaids - though they came with almost no lore in this pack and couldn't do... much of anything, aside from swim faster than other sims. The world is absolutely beautiful and comes with 11 residential lots.

The BB and CAS items were obviously quite themed, but they are done very well. The best part in my opinion was the addition of some more 3c/4a hairstyles! The game really lacks in 3b-3c hairstyles so these were some nice additions. I use the CAS items often for hot-weather wear and I love using the floaties in my sims pools. The sheer curtains add a nice, whimsical vibe to a lot of builds, and many of the build items are great for off-the-grid lots!

This pack received a low score because all the gameplay, aside from the new mermaid occult, are tied to this world. All of the events like turtle hatching (admittedly this does make sense!), ocean swimming, diving, and dolphin interactions are stuck to this island only. The lack of lore and gameplay for mermaids is disappointing for sims that like occult gameplay, as even the special interactions mermaids have with dolphins are stuck in Sulani, even if your mermaid sim lives elsewhere. This pack only received a higher score than eco living because I find that the create-a-sim items and build-buy items are things I use in almost all my saves for hot-weather or swim wear, and for patios and pools.

I would wait to purchase this pack on sale, or skip it altogether. For supernatural-loving simmers, a big selling point for this pack were the mermaids and they are lacking. They don't feel as fleshed out as other occults do, aside from probably the aliens (which are even worse). However, a lot of this world is based in Polynesian culture, especially Hawaii, so if that cultural aspect important to how you play, this pack is one you CAN'T miss! All-in-all, this pack is mostly only worth it for the world - Sulani is incredible!

10. Snowy Escape

Snowy Escape was a controversial pack on release for a lot of specific cultural reasons, though unlike with Island Living, the cultural aspects didn't seem to be the major selling point the sims team was going for with this pack. This pack did introduce quite a bit of gameplay, with skiing, snowboarding, hiking, rock climbing, and hot springs! They also FINALLY added the ability to take shoes off in the couch (which some may argue is cultural, but I would disagree) and also added lifestyles and sentiments to improve how relationships work between sims. The world is pretty unique, as the residential lots are in the valley of a mountain, but the world is pretty small with only 7 residential lots.

The BB and CAS items were again, quite themed, but there are some cute and useful items in the pack! I really enjoyed the clutter items added (the moss ball, the shampoo/conditioner holder, the plates), and I am OBSESSED with the little science table they added for kids - it looks a lot more 'sciency' than the potion table that game in basegame! As an antithesis to Island Living, I use the CAS items a LOT for COLD weather wear. I was so excite when I saw some REAL cold weather wear for toddlers added!

Obviously these items are quite stylized to fit the Asian-themed (originally I believe they were going mostly for Japan but there was some controversy around this) world in this pack. Most of the build/buy items work best within this world, but there are a handful of pieces that could work well just about anywhere! The sentiments and lifestyles added as gameplay are of course useful in any world, though in my opinion the frequent pop ups about earning lifestyles with no further information can be pretty annoying after a while. This pack is only at the bottom because I live in New England and I despise snow and would never subject my sim to skiing or snowboarding, so I don't use a lot of the gameplay that game with this pack. As with the other low-scoring packs, these gameplay additions are also specifically tied to this world - sims can't snowboard in other worlds, even if they do experience snow. The plus side to that is that this world comes with vacation lots, so your sims can go on a skiing/snowboarding/hot spring vacation if they'd like!

Unless you REALLY like snow and snow-based gameplay or really want an Asian-inspired world (it is a really cool world!), I'd wait for a sale on this, or skip it entirely. The world was really designed to be a vacation world, just like Outdoor Retreat, but came with the price tag of an expansion pack. Though this pack has wonderful CAS items for cold weather wear, the BB is so world-specific that it's often hard to use the items in builds in other worlds and have them fit in. And with the controversy surrounding the Japanese cultural aspects that the sims team tried to add, the cultural aspects were quite watered down, so I can't say that buying it for cultural additions makes a lot of sense, either. This pack would probably have made a better gamepack vacation world with how limited gameplay is outside of Mt. Komerebi.

9. Highschool Years

Putting Highschool Years so low on my list might get me some raised eyebrows. It's a good pack, but I also have some pretty good reasons for ranking it at #9.

The gameplay added in this pack was exactly what you'd want from a high school pack. Attending classes, doing homework, taking exams, going to prom, after school clubs, graduation... There was even the addition of a sneak-out window for rebellious teens, acne, and body hair (finally!). The new world, Copperdale, came with a carnival on the pier, and a new thrift store lot type was added where teens can make outfits to sell on Trendi. However, the world is small with only 6 residential lots, and the carnival isn't set up as a lot so traveling there is a pain.

I enjoy the build-buy items, especially the sneak out window where it adds some gameplay aspects. I use the beds and desks in a LOT of my builds. However, it was the create-a-sim items that disappointed me. For a pack called "Highschool YEARS", the clothing and hairstyles were very specific to Gen Z, which doesn't really suit 'years' at all. I personally think many of these items are cute, but for a game that has such a wide variety in their age demographic, it is lacking what I would expect to suit such a range of players. Mostly the issue with this is that the items in this pack will age quickly, so that's something to be aware of if you intend to purchase for CAS items. The build items make for some pretty cool teen rooms, and honestly, those trends never go out of style.

The build/buy items in this pack are amazing for teen rooms, and the gameplay IS fun. Aside from the likelihood of rapid aging, this is a wonderful pack! The big drawback is that class sizes in this game are small, and different sims show up to school every day which is pretty odd. You would expect to have the same classmates in the same courses every day in high school. In my opinion, if you're more CAS oriented than building or gameplay, I probably wouldn't purchase this pack.

If you like school gameplay, I'd recommend Discover University first, though I'd definitely recommend this pack on sale. Again, the build/buy items and the gameplay are great, but the CAS items aren't what I'd expect from something called highschool YEARS, and the world is pretty small (though the carnival is a really cool touch). The highschool gameplay is tied to the specific school in Copperdale. I also am not fond of them including the thrifting trend into the game because of my own personal feelings on resellers and their impact on others, and the gameplay does almost feel like a carbon copy of the university pack, but buggy.

8. Get Famous

This pack is really unique in what it is, and it's a LOT of fun to play through! This pack added celebrities with fame perks and quirks, a new influencer career, and the new media production skill! I like that just about anything can get your sim fame points, so it isn't tied specifically to the acting career or media production - writers, painters, photographers, and other sim hobbies can make your sim famous, too! However, this pack is only at #8 despite how cool this concept is because of the bugs (always the bugs). When a famous sim visits a lot (especially a retail lot, restaurant, or veterinary clinic), sims working at those lots cannot interact with them correctly, which can get quite annoying. Celebrities also get a special 'fame' walk, which sometimes doesn't turn off when it's disabled, or if it does, they still have the annoying 'fame glow' around them.

The CAS items are SO cool - there are a lot of specific costumes for acting gigs, and useful formal wear for men and women, and some cool streetwear, too! There's also a new makeup chair and a closet stand for sims to give each other makeovers with. The build/buy items are either mid-century modern or very over-the-top extravagant verging on tacky, so they're great for both average homes and for the biggest, most dramatic mansion you could ever build in the sims. The ONE CAS item that has issues is the dress they included in the trailer and on the cover art. In the picture, it looks gold and sheer, but in game the 'gold' parts are actually a bright yellow, and the sheer parts are more dark brown/black and don't actually look sheer at all. That dress was the main CAS item I wanted in this pack, so that was pretty disappointing.

Sims can get fame points for SO many things, so the fame system isn't tied specifically to Del Sol Valley OR to the acting career, which makes it pretty versatile! I do think the items are pretty stylized but there are plenty of other packs (tiny living, dream home decorator; luxury party, vintage glamor) that have similar mid-century modern or luxury style items in there that it does fit in well with other packs. They aren't WORLD specific items, so they can be useful in a lot of places, especially your very fancy fancy mansions.

With this pack, I'd wait for a sale just because of all the annoying little bugs in this pack. The items are amazing, and the acting career and media production skills are SO fun, but because of the issues included in this pack (not surprising honestly) it's just not WORTH full price.

7. Get to Work

It is IMPRESSIVE for the very first gamepack in the game to continue to rank this high. They set the bar here for themselves when this was released, and this pack CONTINUES to hold up. This pack game with three playable careers (doctor, scientist, and detective), introduced the retail system, AND added the photography and baking skills. The world it game with was small (Magnolia Promenade, 4 lots with 3 pre-built retail stores), but I think the amount of gameplay in this pack makes up for that tiny world well.

Most of the build/buy and CAS items are pretty specific to the three careers introduced to this game, though I think that is to be expected when this expansion pack was mostly about gameplay rather than a specific world or theme. I do use the jail cells a lot (everyone needs a basement jail... right? riGHT?) and I LOVE the elephant necklace that game with this game - it fits in really well with a lot of the city living objects! The photography studio is a lot of fun to play with as well, especially for aspiring photographer sims or just to take family photos, and there are quite a few clutter items that are pretty useful, especially in a home office! My favorite item is the standard black trash bin with the clear trash bag. It's the little things.

With how basic most of these clothing options are, they can really be used in just about any world. Again, the build/buy items are mostly based on the careers (a lot of them are unlockables!), but the careers can be given to any sim, and can be done in any world as evidenced by the detective career, which makes it a pretty versatile and useful pack!

This is one pack I always recommend because the careers are so much fun - I like playable careers rather than watching my lot on superspeed until the sim suddenly warps back into the lot because we don't have cars or carpools or an open world... or many sims that walk by... it removes the 'dead world' feeling that I get while waiting for my sim to return. I like that the retail lots can be built up depending on how successful you are at them, and these careers add a bit more challenge to promotions than the non-playable careers. With the small world and very specific build/buy items, it might be better to wait for a sale but I do think this one is worth full price if you're interested in all aspects of the pack.

6. Discover University

We're at the halfway point, and the Sims team ALWAYS manages to rock their university packs! The gameplay here is quite similar to Highschool Years with the classes, graduation, the clubs, studying in the commons or library, spirit events... etc. There was also the addition of bikes in this packs, which is one reason it stands out from the highschool years pack (not to mention it came first), along with dorm games like juice pong and soccer. It also introduced servos, which your engineering-inclined sims can build in the labs at school and can become playable sims! The dorms and dorm parties add some cool interactions between sims and their study habits, and most importantly, graduation can actually give sims job perks in that they start working in their field a few levels up.

The build/buy items can be pretty dorm specific, but this pack also introduced laptops (previously only came with strangerville), and a lot of the CAS items are more general than the items that came with Highschool Years, so they suit a larger variety of players. This also came with new piercings and tattoos (eco living also had some nice piercings!), the bike, and every builder's favorite item, the STAND ALONE SHOWER!! It still gets me excited - custom showers! We love those! The toilet stalls were pretty exciting too, for many public lot builds. For all of us bibliophiles out there, the bookshelves included in this pack are absolutely beautiful for all your library building needs, and the desks were general enough that they can be used just about anywhere.

The build/buy items ARE pretty specific to the dormitory lots with the exception of the plants and the bikes, but they could also be used for other public lots or home offices fairly easily. The windows and doors included in this pack do have a pretty specific 'university town' look to them, so those are less usable in other worlds.

If you like the school gameplay, THIS is the pack I would recommend, especially if you're choosing between this or highschool years. Of course if you're more of a builder, or you prefer CAS, this still comes down to personal taste, but I do find that these items are useful in more scenarios outside of the university gameplay. If you don't care about any of that, this is an easy pack to skip because the school gameplay IS tied to Brichester.

5. City Living

This pack was exciting on release due to the addition of apartments! Unlike Eco Living, these apartments are teeming with life - nosey neighbors, loud music at late hours, 'woohoo' noises, petty arguments... a lot of gameplay just within the building! Many of the apartments come with different lot traits that can't be removed, from 'haunted' to 'needs TLC'. There are always different festivals going on, and a new lot type with the karaoke bars. Basketball and murals and selling tables were added, and several new careers (politician, food/art critics, social media). The world is smaller than you'd expect for a city, but it's very dense with lots to do all the time. There are 12 apartment lots to choose from with varying numbers of apartments per building. There's also a lot of really cool open space to explore while walking around.

My absolute favorite items are the four poster bed and the kitty dress! I use these all the time. The build/buy and clothing options in this pack add so much color and variety to the sims, but there are plenty that can be used in other more subdued builds as well. I loved the addition of 'used' furniture items that were cheaper - it added a bit of apartment realism and 'grimey' items for rags-to-riches type gameplay. The keyboard was also a fun addition, and fun for teen rooms or for sims that want to play piano but can't afford/fit a grand piano.

The apartment gameplay is unfortunately tied to San Myshuno, but the world itself is amazing and, though your sims have to travel to the city for festivals, any sim can go to the festivals if they want to (unlike in Sulani, where the event pop ups only show up for sims IN Sulani). The items are great for contemporary or modern builds, or for boho builds, or for artsy sims... there's a lot of variety! There were also some cultural foods and clothing items added to this pack, and a lot of unique but very cute CAS items that suit quirky sims.

Amazing build/buy items, really cool CAS items and an amazing world make this pack a win for me! The downside is that you can't build your apartments in other worlds or include apartment gameplay in other worlds. Of course the value depends on the aspects of gameplay that you care about if you'd want to pay full price, but I think this pack is worth it!

4. Cottage Living

Cottage Living was probably the pack simmers looked forward to the most! This pack is at number 4 in my ranking because personally the farm life, cottage core thing is not my favorite aesthetic, but the gameplay involved in this pack is amazing. I loved the addition of livestock, especially since they weren't playable sims and were confined to their little barn items. Some people may not like this, but I feel like it diminishes the bugs that we ran into in the Sims 3 with the horses, making them more usable overall. I add chickens to EVERY build now, because... well, I like chickens.

I also loved the new garden beds that were added, where they were in the ground rather than raised beds, and the giant crops with all the festivals. The mushroom foraging is fun, and I love that the wild animals (rabbits, birds and foxes) can help in the garden, too. There was also the addition of the simple living lot challenge, which can really add a lot for simmers who like to play through generations in different time periods. There is a new skill - cross stitching - and the picnic baskets are SO CUTE. I enjoy the local pub and the shop stands, and the community feel this world has. That being said, the world is cool but it doesn't have as many lots as you'd expect from a world this size, with only 9 residential lots.

There are a lot of cute build/buy and create a sim items in this pack. They're obviously very stylized, with the rural, country feel that was popular for quite a while. If you, like me, are someone who doesn't cares about the 'cottage core aesthetic', I do think a lot of the CAS items are quite useful for elder sims. There were also a lot of nice pieces for toddlers, and for cold weather wear. My absolute favorite CAS items are the earrings, especially the llamas. I use the cottage living fireplaces in a lot of my builds - they're nice for traditional or craftsman style homes - and the basket blanket is such a cute clutter item for the living room.

I do think that this pack lacks some generality, in that most of the items really only suit Henford-on-Bagley. However, aside from mushroom foraging, the new gameplay can be used anywhere, which helps increase its score in the ranking. I could see these items working for a grandparent sims closet/house in any world, but the items are quite stylized to fit a certain aesthetic which can limit use, in my opinion.

Overall, this is a great pack! If you like the cottage core vibes, this pack is FOR YOU. I personally purchased this for the new gameplay rather than the build/buy or create-a-sim items, but even with the gameplay alone it ranked at number 4 for me, so... this pack is worth it, full price if you just can't wait! (I'll never say NOT to wait for a sale because... everyone loves a sale!)

3. Get Together

I suspect ranking this above cottage living will get some gasps and some astonishment. This pack has a VERY good reason for being ranked this high, though.

Get Together introduced the club system. I know a lot of simmers think the club system isn't that great, but I'm not convinced that they're using it to the best of its abilities. The club system can be used to make little cliques (hello, tie in to high school years, anyone??) or friend groups of course. They can also be used for skillbuilding and completing aspirations. If you have a goal to get your sim to max out a skill level or complete an aspiration? Clubs really can be the way to go for that. They are useful for SO many things, even boosting student sims grades if their club is a study group! They're so general that you can make a club for anything - the only limit to them is what you can imagine them being useful for!

I also really enjoyed the addition of more games, like darts, don't wake the llama, and foosball. They're supposed to be pub-style games, but they can also add a lot of family game play if that's your preferred playing style. The kids 'don't wake the llama' game comes with a cute pastel table, and foosball can be used for teen or college sims at their highschool or dorm parties. The pack added big bonfires that sims can dance around or change the color off, diving platforms for pools and the new dance and dj skills. There are two new lot types, cafes and clubs. The best part, the reason this is ranked number three, is the world of Windenburg. This is the largest world in the game and comes with 14 residential lots.

I will say I find the create-a-sim items a little bit lacking for what I prefer to use, but there are a lot of cute items in there as well. It also added some decent masculine formal wear, which is pretty lacking in this game. The build/buy items are Tudor-styled, which is pretty specific to this world, but the new cafes and clubs can be used in any world, as you can build your own to suit whatever style you want! I also think that the outdoor decor items (not building exterior items, I'm talking landscaping) are pretty general as well, and I'll admit the flower boxes. the trellis, and the sundial are some of my favorite items to add to a garden or a park.

The club system, cafes, and club lots can be used in any world you may want to place one, which makes this pack gameplay usable in any world you choose to play in. I also find that the CAS items are pretty general too, so the outfits you can create don't stand out or look strange in other worlds. The build/buy items are Tudor style, so in terms of building exterior decor they may stand out, but the landscaping items, the diving boards, the bonfires, and the furniture can fit in well just about anywhere, too!

This pack is worth it for the world alone. Windenburg is unarguably the best world in the game. The build/buy items are nice, too, especially with the new game tables, and CAS has some great pieces, especially for masculine formal wear or even just masculine basics that look nice. If you aren't interested in utilizing the club system at all this pack may be one to buy on sale, but if you ARE interested in that aspect, this pack is one you should run out and get ASAP!

2. Cats and Dogs

Let me just say, when this pack trailer released, I almost screamed. An animal pack with a New England themed world AND the first 3b/3c curly hair in the game?! It's like they made a pack with all of my interests out of nowhere. It's still my absolute favorite pack, and I think it always will be.

Obviously the big point to this pack were the addition of household pets, in the form of dogs and cats. The dogs and cats could be customized by breed, but you can also customize them further just like with the regular sims with coat length, color, patterns... and a custom color wheel that allows you to paint details directly on your pet, which can create some WILD (pun intended) looking animals. There is a new pet training skill in this pack, and a new playable career where sims can buy a veterinary clinic and work as a veterinarian!

The world in this pack, Brindleton Bay, is a New England themed world, and it's pretty accurate to the real thing (I would know ;]). There are ocean-front mansions, and smaller more modest homes in other neighborhoods, and even a neighborhood on/by the pier. I also love (and simultaneously hate because it's a bit sad) the stray animals wandering the world that your sims can adopt. Mayor Whiskers is my absolute favorite, and he deserves all the love and fish he can get.

I LOVE the build/buy items in this pack, and a lot of the create-a-sim items are nice, too. There are a lot of CAS items that can suit spring/fall weather in New England, and there's a lot of layering going on which really speaks to the weird, fluctuating weather the northeast is known for. They're also pretty basic pieces, so they tend to work just about anywhere. This pack also came with my other favorite fireplace, a beautiful aquarium that puts the other in-game aquariums to shame, and the dining table I use in just about every build. The bathroom set is pretty amazing with a full soaking tub for your sim to relax in, and of course, LOTS of pet items for your new furry friends. The best part is the FIRST TYPE 3 CURLY HAIR IN THE GAME. Previously we only had type 2 waves, type 4 afros/braids, and straight hair, so this was pretty exciting for those of us with curls which have been sorely lacking in every iteration of the Sims.

The build/buy items, including the exterior decor, suit the traditional home style. These fit in with just about any world, and especially work well in combination with the Seasons build/buy items in my opinion. I also love the create-a-sim items for more male fashion basics, and some really nice options for female sims, too. Since the CAS items are also mostly basics, all of these items can be used just about anywhere and fit in nicely.

This is my all time favorite pack. You get a lot of items for the price, especially with wall decor and the new playable career on top of the regular expansion pack BB/CAS items and... who doesn't like pets? Who? WHO? In my opinion, this pack is a MUST.

1. Seasons

Lets be honest - who would expect anything less but Seasons to be at #1?

This pack, of course, introduced seasonal play! There is weather, from rain and thunderstorms, to sun and heatwaves, clouds, and snow. There's rollerskating and ice skating, playing in mud puddles, new animations with slipping on ice, playing in the snow or leaves during winter and fall. This pack also improved the gardening system and added the honey box so the bees can help level up your garden. For kids, there were seasonal crafts, too. The best part is the holiday gameplay, where not only can you play through pre-made holidays, but you can actually create your own with their own traditions. There's also a new skill of flower arranging, and the changing temperatures WILL have an effect on your sims, from sunburns, death by heat, or freezing to death.

For Build/Buy items, there was SO much included in this pack, with the holiday decor, the windows and doors sets, the plants and gardening items, and all the new bed and couch options. Create-a-sim was updated with cold weather and hot weather wear categories, and this pack included options for both with winter coats, boots, hats, and gloves, and light summerwear to keep your sims cool. They even automatically change outfits on their own (currently a bug which isn't great) in changing weather to prevent heat/cold related deaths. Even better? This pack game with THE SECOND 3B/3C TYPE HAIRSTYLE! There's a half-up style with a bun that's super cute on both male and female sims, and is an amazing addition to the minimal curly hairs in this game.

The weather gameplay affects ALL worlds, and weather often suits each world type and varies from world to world. The desert worlds (Oasis Springs, Strangerville, Del Sol Valley) will not get snow, but may get occasional rain. Brindleton Bay, Windenburg, Henford-On-Bagley, Mt. Komerebi, and other northern-based worlds will get all four seasons, and the tropical island worlds (Sulani, Tartosa) will get sun, but can also get thunderstorms and clouds on stormy days. This expansion takes inter-pack usefulness to a whole new level.

This pack has so much gameplay, and so many useful items. It is the first pack I think any new simmer should get because it adds so much gameplay and is so versatile to every world and subsequent pack. Seriously, go get it! Get it!!!!!!!

#the sims 4 #expansion packs #the sims 4 expansion packs #ranking

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