#at least for now i'm interested in finding ways to mimic it/make it more pleasant while still including it in some capacity

[snapdragoned]

alternative university ideas 🤔💭

so i've been trying to think through how i want to handle university in my game. i like the idea of my sims having at least a round to "go to college" (whatever that looks like) before they transition into full adulthood. but i honestly hate university the way it works in the game and never look forward to university rounds. i hate grinding to fill up a performance meter with no real-world use for my sims. the skill points are nice, but i dread the homework/term paper side of it.

so i'm thinking i could create a single lot that has classrooms and practical skilling areas, both for standard skills and talent badges. kind of a cross between a community college and a community center. i could have my newly adult sims stay there for a round in a mocked up dorm and pursue whatever they want for 5-6 days and move out significantly more talented than they came. i was planning to use the sim blender/visitor controller to teleport relevant sims in and make them selectable to use skilling objects to make the lot seem less empty. i think there are 3 practical ways to do this:

an apartment - make an apartment building with only a few small units. the common areas would be the classrooms. the pros of this are that my sim could actually live there and pay reasonable rent (i could depreciate/tweak the rent with pescado's magic wand, or cheat them enough money for rent). the cons are that non-students could move in, and that i'd have to either knock down walls or use cheats to make the apartments bigger if i'm sending multiple people to college at once. and just the general bugginess of apartments could be an issue.

an owned business - make a random sim own the college campus, take them to the lot, and transport/make selectable the students i want to play. this is closest to how other simmers handle playable schools (to my knowledge). the pros are that i'd have more freedom with it not being an apartment and it would have more activity as a business. the cons are that i feel like i'd need additional mods to make this work and some tweaking to adjust the business aspect to not interfere. would i be able to have the business owner/visitors sleep there overnight for multiple days to mimic a dorm? i don't know! i've never tried it. i feel like there's potential for issues there.

a college dorm - make a dorm in the university subhood and cheat the college progress bars full/manually stop students from going to class, then let them do whatever in their downtime. the cons are that i honestly don't even want to fuck with the university subhood anymore and i'd either have find new mods or micromanage my sims to make sure they didn't go to class. the pros are that it would auto-populate with dormies and there wouldn't be any issues with trying to finagle a dorm.

i don't know! just thinking out loud a little here... any feedback/ideas for mods are totally welcome! if you play university differently than how the EP was meant to be played, i'd love to hear your thoughts in the reblogs/replies.

[mollywog]

Oooh tell me how what you find interesting about the “I don’t know how you survived this long” line from Peeta. Now that I think about it’s so interesting to me that Peeta thinks lying is a necessity for surviving, and actually says a lot about how he was raised?

Ooo thank you for the ask @mage-chocolate!!

"You're such a bad liar, Katniss. I don't know how you've survived this long." He begins to mimic me. "I knew that goat would be a little gold mine. You're a little cooler though. Of course, I'm not going." He shakes his head. "Never gamble at cards. You'll lose your last coin," he says.

Three different levels here: Living in Panem in general, surviving the Games, Peeta’s home life (this is more HC stuff)

In Panem

You’d expect Katniss would need to be a good liar with all her illegal activities, but fortunately she’s recognized this and has found other ways to stay out of trouble:

When I was younger, I scared my mother to death, the things I would blurt out about District 12, about the people who rule our country, Panem, from the far-off city called the Capitol. Eventually I understood this would only lead us to more trouble. So I learned to hold my tongue and to turn my features into an indifferent mask so that no one could ever read my thoughts. Do my work quietly in school. Make only polite small talk in the public mar-ket. Discuss little more than trades in the Hob, which is the black market where I make most of my money. Even at home, where I am less pleasant, I avoid discussing tricky topics. Like the reaping, or food shortages, or the Hunger Games. Prim might begin to repeat my words and then where would we be?

Not to mention, she says the peacekeepers are among her best customers (don’t execute bite the hand that feeds.)

In the games

Let me start with a kudos to @cutpaperbleedswater for their point from this ask

The idea of putting on a facade and pretending to be something for the sake of strategy is everywhere- from Katniss slipping her mask of indifference on and not crying as soon as she volunteers to her interview prep struggles:

"All right, enough," he says. "We've got to find another angle. Not only are you hostile, I don't know anything about you. I've asked you fifty questions and still have no sense of your life, your family, what you care about. They want to know about you, Katniss."

"But I don't want them to! They're already taking my future! They can't have the things that mattered to me in the past!" I say.

"Then lie! Make something up!" says Haymitch.

"I'm not good at lying," I say.

"Well, you better learn fast. You've got about as much charm as a dead slug," says Haymitch.

…

By the end of the session, I am no one at all. Haymitch started drinking somewhere around witty, and a nasty edge has crept into his voice. "I give up, sweetheart. Just answer the questions and try not to let the audience see how openly you despise them."

I’m also thinking about Katniss hiding her tears over Thresh’s death because it won’t play well for sponsors.

In Peeta’s home life

We know Peeta’s mother physically and verbally assaults him at least once in the past and it’s suggested it wasn’t a one-off occurrence.

So moving into the stuff of HCs: I imagine that Mrs. Mellark is sort of unpredictable - that she can be loving and charming (Peeta’s charm comes from somewhere and Mr. Mellark is often described as quiet), but she can also turn on a dime. And as a result the family walks on egg shells and Peeta, from a young age becomes accurately perceptive of moods (and then by extension others’), and learns to anticipate reactions and lie convincingly - skills he applies beyond just his home life.

[atangledfate]

Sonic grimaced as she ripped that grate off the sewer, and was reminded that she was juts physically stronger then he was. She was kind of scary if he was honest but, he didn't let his brain linger to long on the fact she could rip him in half if she wanted to. He was way more concerned with the icky water! Not that the ick bothered him as much as the PTSD he had of being trapped under water in one of eggman's freaking sewers! At least there wouldn't be any Piranha bots! please no piranha bots!

" Nope doesn't ring a--- Hold on... i remember Amy telling me about some greasy rat man... don't think we've had the pleasure of talking in person..."

He opted not to mention the whole avalanche or Starlines involvement. better not to open old wounds he figured but grimaced at the pipe.

" hey, I've been trapped under water in enough sewers to know its never just a little water! Besides i don't exactly float ya know... i sink like a rock. Everyone teases me about not being able to swim! less not being able to swim and more a lack of floatyness! "

He jumped up into the pipe behind her barely even noting the shuttle as his brain was elsewhere. He grunted at the traps, at least she could disable them but man this was a pain! and way to slow! He could vibrate himself through them probably but, that was pretty exhausting and he had no idea if Mimic had planned for something like that. It wasn't a common ability--- but still this was a pain and he hated going slow!

" Finally something we can agree on--- well we could try something... might be risky and a bit exhausting. But would get us there faster... You ever tried vibrating yourself at a high frequency? "

Sonic held his hand out to the wall and vibrated his cells at a high speed allowing him to pass right through it like he wasn't even there. Another trick that Starline was probably just not aware of--- but if he could do it he was certain she could.

" It's handy for escaping being crushed, but maintaining it long term is like running a marathon... but i can do it, so can shadow and i'm betting you can to. Just takes a little practice... and focus... "

He just hoped she wouldn't get annoyed that he was teaching her things that maybe never occurred to her. Things starline couldn't imagine she could do---there was alot he could show her given time and her willingness to learn.

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She had to smile a little impressed with Kit's resourcefulness. Freezing the tech like that seemed to short out it's circuits, and disable it quickly. This would allow them to progress much faster, and because of he echo location she could easily find all his little tricks! This was perfect, by working together the two of them could easily circumvent his hurdle and rescue Tangle! That was so important to her right now---despite how annoying she could be. Tangle was like the heart of the team... and more then that she was such a good friend! she didn't want to let her down!

" Right... then i'll be your eyes, and together we'll reach Mimic in half the time he's expecting..."

She flicked her bell every few seconds to keep the sound bouncing down the hall. By using her echo location she could see what no one else could. All the laser beams, all the little bombs, and every tunnel and byway. She wasn't going to fail Tangle, just like she saved her from that trap! Lanolin was going to save her and when she got her hands on Mimic--- she'd rip that beak off his face and keep it as a trophy!

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The Lemur continued to impress him. Most people in her situation would have already fallen victim to the toxin. But she was a fighter, it did make things more interesting as she sure did like to run her mouth. But the more she struggled, the more she tried to move the deeper the toxin would run in her veins. It might not be lethal in the dose he used, but that didn't make it all all pleasant. She was a problem he intended to remove from the equation entirely!

" You think this is about her? "

He scowled at the Lemur shifting his knife and hammed it directly against her rib intending to break it! a reminder that the toxin didn't dull any pain or injuries.

" ... this was always about you... because of you i got locked up in a max security cell. I have wanted nothing more then to make you suffer... so i came up with this plan. One to kill you, whisper and everyone else who was dumb enough to follow me..."

He sneered and whispered into Tangle's ear with a soft tone, so calm and filled with delight as everything was just how he wanted it.

" Tell me... why would i trap myself in a box? "

Whisper gitted her teeth as her ears twitched! She just needed a clean shot, but he was purposely using Tangle' to shield himself. She was so worried she'd hit her. Her care for Tangle prevented her from risking the shot. If it was anyone else she might go for it, but not here, not her and he knew that because he knew her so well. Yet her eyes shifted to the duffle that disappeared and realized someone else was down here trying to save Tangle. It's when she devise a plan if she could just get them to understand her intention.

Whisper reached into her jacket and flicked a strap dropping her crystals onto the floor behind her within her shadow. She knew so much about wisps she knew what was going on easily enough. All they had to do was plop a crystal behind Mimic just outside his field of vision---she could finally end this! She knew Cyan was one of the few wisps who was just fine with removing Mimic.

The young Feline winced at Rowan as he slunk down against the wall. his eyes closing as he didn't have the energy to stay awake. Yet mumbled about the trap a few more times. He hoped, and prayed that someone killed that bastard, for all the pain he caused him nothing would make him happier. he'd done all he could yet, he knew it might be to late. His eyes closed and he didn't know if he was embracing death or not--- but he knew that they didn't have any more time left...

As for the bag all that was inside were some flash grenades, some ammunition, and a strange looking glove with gold finger tips. Seemed Mimic didn't notice yet but at least his arsenal was out of the way.

" Time's up... "

A buzzer went off from his computer and mimic only smiled as the flood gates began to roll to the side. and the large doors marking the exit to the sewers rolled closed. Sealing everyone inside, and Mimic's plan coming together as a wave of water came crashing down from behind Sonic and Surge and Lanolin and kitsunami. before rushing into the room from two sides.

This was always his plan---drown them all, he could kill all his enemies at once!

" You know the best part Lemur? watching that panic set in your eyes as you slowly drown..."

"The guy behind this is named Clutch, who you've had a run it from what he's told me. As for where he is, well, I said I fucked up royally. He's in the Grand Prix airship which is armed to the teeth with weapons. If Miles is flying here then you may want to warn him they'll try to shoot him down." Not like anyone was on the ship who could cause enough of a distraction to delay them from shooting anything that flies too close. It didn't help it was right over the base making her think Clutch planned this.

Surge then ripped off the entrance to the sewer, tossing it far into the distance. "Never wanted to share that with me, though he was only starting to build up on rings so wouldn't be too surprised if half of it was to raise money." The tenrec would deal with him later, though took noticed to a shuttle suddenly flying right up too it.

"What the fuck? Did he have ANOTHER spy? You know what, I don't care right now. We'll deal with that later." Surge began walking into the sewer. "It's a fucking sewer Sonic. The water ain't that deep, well, not until you get to where it all drains. Besides, some dirty shoes is a small price to pay to get the jump on Mimic." The tenrec then stopped, holding out her hand to stop Sonic as well. "There's tech on the walls, I can sense the electricity in it." The speedster flicked some lightning out, watching it bounce to anything tech and fry it. Small lines of smoke filling the tunnel. "Not sure if there's more. Guess we'll have to take it slow, ugh."

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"No need for that. Let's say Mimic might regret choosing the sewer to hide in." Kitsunami did make mist, though would have it freeze around all the various traps and tripwires thus breaking them. "I don't have an eye sharp enough to spot them so just tell me when we're coming up on some traps." The fennec had been training hard to better use he's powers, and his knowledge help to find the easiest path to break all the traps.

"Though I'm worried Mimic might have a remote detonator. I'm sure if he hears up getting closer he'll just cave everything in and try take us with him." Kitsunami wasn't as good as Mimic on stealth so doubt he could sneak up on him again. Even then he still failed to get Tangle and avoid all of this.

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Tangle grunts feeling the back of the knife jam into her side. "My Uncle is going to kick your butt when he get's his hands on you." The lemur was glad she could at least talk, though wasn't sure how much longer that would last as she continued to felt her body stiffen up. Though her attention when to seeing Whisper, though she frowns seeing the state she's in.

"Really? That's why you're doing this? She didn't even do anything to you, you did everything to her! I'm going to tail punch you in the face so hard when this is over!" Tangle wished she could move her body right now, mainly because she was sure Whisper wasn't here just to rough Mimic up and take him to jail.

Rowan was turning just to try and come up with a plan when the cat pulled his arms and told him Mimic's plan to flood everything. "Okay, first, try to buy you some more time." The lemur pulled out a shot. "Won't wake you up, though will give your body a boost to last a few more hours before I can get you help." He gave the stranger the shot before turning back.

Rowan saw Mimic walking back towards something that was casting a small shadow. Good thing it didn't matter the size as the shadow Wisp could still open a portal even with the smallest of shadows. He walked over as the Wisp appeared, still looking like a laser Wisp. "You gonna drop the disguise anytime soon?" The lemur got his answer by the Wisp nervously shaking it's head no before opening a small portal.

Rowan stuck his hand through and grabbed the bag, pulling it in as the shadow closed once more. "What was he going after?" The lemur opened and began digging around hoping to find a remote trigger to whatever trap Mimic had. It'll give him a chance to rewire it and use it to stop the trap.