#dina lives her dream with mortimer

[samotnya]

Deadbeat cheating husbands Don Lothario and Daniel Pleasant. Gay failmarriage. They have two simoleons to their name necause of all the child-support they gotta pay lol.

[lodgersims]

As a Sims 2 player one of the most eerie things about playing the original game isn't necessarily the creepy/more liminal aesthetic or the repetitively endless gameplay, but the fact that almost all the pre-made Sims from the original game are inexorably doomed by the narrative.

There's something odd about Pleasantview specifically, where the majority of the returning Sim families live (save for Tara Kat, who seems... relatively fine). Like, the concept of the game is that twenty-five years have passed, and all of the returning characters are pre-baked into character arcs that communicate an unavoidable truth: You, the player, failed.

Bella Goth will disappear. Her brother (though in the original Sims we aren't aware that Michael Bachelor is her brother) will die, possibly murdered. Mortimer will be lost and alone. Cassandra will be stuck in an unloving engagement. The Newbie's daughter will be impoverished, a single mother whose husband died young, with two boys and another on the way. Daniel Pleasant will grow up to be a cheater. Jennifer Pleasant will never be an athlete like she wanted (her brother will). And though poor Johnny Burb never mentions Tucker anymore, you know that old dog died years ago. The Roomies, the Mashugas, the Hicks, the Charmings - all leave town... or worse, die out.

I think about Jeff Pleasant's bio in the first game: "Jeff and his family are new to the neighborhood. Can you help Jeff provide for his family and fulfill his lifelong goal of being the first man to walk on Mars?" And how it contrasts to Daniel's in the second: "Since his father Jeff died without achieving his dream of going to Mars, Daniel has felt an overwhelming guilt."

And sure, you can save the families of Pleasantview. You can choose for Mary-Sue to not go to work that day, or maybe Daniel never pursues Kaylynn Langerak again. You can give Cassandra a happy marriage, tame Don Lothario's womanizer ways. You can financially save Brandi Broke. You can get John Burb another dog. You can get Jennifer the career she always wanted. You can defy the scripted in-game prompts and say "No. I don't want to play like this." You can break the cycle, every time you play.

And yet, at the end of the day, no matter what you do... uninstalling the game and reinstalling it, maybe just deleting that Neighborhood folder, they are reset back to exactly where they were again. They're doomed to repeat it forever.

The game makes it clear that there are some things you aren't meant to change. A genie lamp or a Resurrect-O-Nomitron can bring back sims like Michael Bachelor, but you will pay for it in your neighborhood deteriorating to corruption. And no matter what you do, no force in the universe can bring Bella Goth back. The one in Strangetown isn't even really her, after all. And maybe she isn't. They say they deleted her in development, replaced her with a clone. Maybe that's what Bella Goth in Strangetown is. A clone. Maybe we were wrong, after all. Maybe she was never abducted by aliens. Maybe Don Lothario killed her. Maybe Dina Caliente killed her. Maybe Mortimer did. But you can't bring her back, no matter what you do. Recreate the original Bella, pixel by pixel, extract her data, make your zombie Bella. Build your own monster. Create a sim. But she will never recognize her family. Never see them as her own.

And she was never meant to.

[tamtam-go92]

The Stories of Riverblossom View and Pleasanthills

This post on @katatty's Strangeswap AU reminded me on a stupid idea I once had after reading that Riverblossom Hills might be a spoof on Pleasantview, but of course I didn't have the time/guts/interest/thrive to actually realize it as a 'hood (though I still might!). I basically gives every (except for two) Pleasantview an Riverblossom Hill character as counterpart and is really funny and interesting for me to thing about:

The Broke family <--> the Ottomas family:

Samantha was left to raise two boys alone following her husband's suspicious pool ladder accident. With David acting out, can Samantha teach young Tommy to make the right choices in life?

Large families have a lot of love to share, but also require a lot of work - especially with more children on the way! Will grandma's help be enough to keep this family strong? -> Basically everyone is swapped, so Peter is dead, Samantha is pregnant with his third baby, Flo Broke lives with her son Skip and his family, Brandi is pregnant with twins. Sharla becomes a Broke and gets to be a blend of Skip and Brandi.

The Caliente family <--> the Wan household:

Was it just coincidence that those girlfriends arrived in the eve of Stella's disappearance? And is their interest in Morty physical... or fiscal?

Dina and Nina moved to town when their uncle, Tango, offered them his old home - which they just finished remodeling. Will they find excitement in this quiet town after the dust has cleares? Will Nina and Daniel make a life together? -> I think it was the Wan households description on the wiki that make me first think about this AU. Though I can't find the comment about the Wans being a spoof of the Calientes anymore. Very little is interesting about this swap, Nina is Patricia, Dina is Cleo and vice versa

The Dreamer family <--> the Martin family:

Andrew is pursuing his dream of being a professional gamer, while his son Jacob hits the books. And Andrew may have found his muse, but will his creativity be enough to win Sandra's affection? -> So basically this one is a bit creepy since it makes Jacob's canon (now adult) girlfriend his dad's love interest. xD And Jules O'Mackey is back to being Jacob's girlfriend - yay!

The Goth family <--> the Roth family:

Sandra is ready to start a family of her own, but can she tame the town Casanova? And can Morty bounce back after the disappearance of his wife Stella?

Having recently moved to Pleasanthills has had a wondeful effect on the Goths! Cassandra and Alexander are doing great in school, Mortimer found a great job, but Bella seems a bit restless... -> This might be the most obvious and gifts us with the amazing couple Cassandra Goth x Dirk Dreamer! Isn't it lovely??? Sandra would be about to marry Leod McGreggor and well that's the only interesting switch imo.

The Lothario family <--> the McGreggor family:

Who is Leod McGreggor? Is his engagement to Sandra Roth genuine? And what about the rumor that her mother, Stella, was last seen scaling the deck of his condo?

Don Lothario has a farm... and an orchard. Will he be so focused on gardening that he forgets to cultivate friendships? -> This is such a fun pair imo! The dishonesty in the McGreggor/Roth engagement would probably be more about his sexuality in this case though... And Don as a farmer in a kilt? A+!

The Pleasant family <--> the O'Mackey family

On the surface, Gabe and Alexandra O'Mackey seem to have the perfect life, but is their love a flimsy facade? And can Angela and Jules make the right choices when it comes to love?

After being caught cheating, it took Daniel some time to start dating again. Is his relationship with Nina meant to last? Will Nina and Lillith be able to work out their problems and realize how similar they really are?

Mary-Sue succumbed to the call of pottery and left her family to pursue her dream. Will living the Artist life be enough to keep her afloat? -> I was about to let Daniel live alone but then I remembered that Gabe and Jason Greenman are siblings, and Daniel and Jennifer Burb are siblings so this aligns nicely so Lilith gets to live with her dad. Angela now is an O'Mackey and looks like Jules and she gets to date David Ottomas, yay! Jules is with Jacob, as the universe intended and Lilith once was Dirk's girlfriend. =( I don't like DanielxNina much but it's the logical result. And Mary-Sue as bisexual potter living in a hut is just top-notch!

The Burb family <--> the Greenman family

Rose, Jason and young Daisy have decided to trade the fast-paced city life for some fresh air, and hope to make a nice home in Riverblossom View.

Jennifer gave up her name for the love of her green-skinned god. Despite the love that they share, will they be able to raise a happy, healthy child? Can John adjust to living in a town instead of the great outdoors? -> The biggest changes would be that Daisy now is Jason and Rose's biological child and thus a mixture of them both and of course her and Rose aren't plant-sims anymore. So John and Lucy are plant-sims and Lucy is John's plant-baby.

The Oldie family <--> the Ramaswami family

The Ramaswamis are simply one of the nicest families around. Their years together through good and bad have made them into the wonderful parents, and grandparents, they are today.

Herb and Coral are ready to settle down and start their life together! Will they settle in the beautiful town of Pleasanthills or find a new place to make their happy home? -> This would be so fun because it would make (elder) Sanjay and Priya Alexandra O'Mackey's adoptive parents! I know we have Alexandra's parents in her family tree, but this would be so cool, wouldn't it? And seeing a young Herb and Coral start the family they always wanted together? *chef's kiss*

The Caliente-Goth-Dreamer household:

Can Tango and Frieda cope with the loss of their close friend and face their own imminent mortality or will they find a way to cheat death? Will Darren and Dirk fina a way to fulfill their dreams in the great game of life? -> I love this the most as is gives the opportunity to explore sims that usually are already decreased. Of course that means we don't have Catherine and Betty. But isn't it just too perfect that Nina and Dina have an uncle (just like Cleo Shikibu is Catherine's niece) and Morty has unmarried aunt (just like Mortimer)? Those are a little too many coincidences, aren't they? So I see where the Riverblossom Hills is a Pleasantview spoof comes from!

Aesthetic-wise I would imagine it to be like that: Every Sim gets the age of their counterpart (I mean of course) and also their outfit. But otherwise they keep their looks (except it's stated otherwise) like hair-do, face, skin-color, makeup etc. The maps are switched, but everyone lived in their counterpart's house, so for ex. Samantha, David and Tommy Ottomas live in the Broke trailer but the trailer is on the Riverblossom Hills map (if this makes sense xD). I really wanna do this but I know that I don't have the time or the patience or the skills to do this as it would mean massive editing of relationships and memories etc. But if somebody feels inspired, feel free to create! Just please share the end result with me <3

Wow, this is long xD Which 'hood would you swap like this? Maybe Veronaville and Strangetown would work together (with everyone being related with each other). Belladonna has so many sims it would probably require two hoods to do the deed so both Desiderata Valley and Bluewater Village?

[theromanticscrooge]

A Short Discussion About Classic Sims, The Nostalgic Living Dolls

Around 2004, the first iteration of The Sims was at the end of its life cycle as the biggest PC game on the market at the time and a juggernaut genre-starter (compared to the many different life sims and in-development options there are now).

'Dollhouse' was a very apt nickname for the early development days of the original Sims. The locked top-down perspective, the deliberate isometric environments with only so many perspectives a player can view their pixelated 'dolls' from, the blocky aesthetic of the 'dolls' themselves, as well as the limited interactions with the world and objects around them. These objects and environments were lovingly rendered and hold up decently well in the way a specific, careful stylization can.

Create a virtual pixel person and follow their journey through life to an (untimely) demise. The first Sims were immortal outside of tragic pool ladder accidents and getting bitten by unhappy guinea pigs among other various gruesome or hilariously cartoonish deaths.

Though, with the original Sims, the game was more about game-ifying the tight rope walk of work-life balance, if not an exercise as a vicarious 'American Dream.' The more expensive and higher-quality an item or the Sims' overall surroundings, the 'happier' they are according to how green their various needs bars are. While Sims slowly gained access to more quality of life additions beyond cushy objects, such as vacations, date venues, and furry friends, general life was such a grind that players cheated (through cheat codes, mods, or even in-game short cuts like getting their palm read) if they wanted to thoroughly explore and enjoy these new gameplay options vs just the needs balancing act. Even making and maintaining friendships was a grind. Outside NPC Sims are just as finicky as the playable ones. They just don't have as obviously visible needs indicators unless the situation is so desperate there's a flashing red thought bubble above their head.

While these Sims were engaging, whatever stories players assigned to them were woven together between the playful flavor text of in-game items or pop-up displays and the player's theater of the mind. Arguably, the more dynamic storytelling tools and mechanics so many players fell in love with started with Sims 2.

These next-generation Sims had a means of telling their god what they wanted through the slot-machine adjacent UI. For example, a fortune Sim happily reminds the player of their frivolous, extravagant shopping list with constant requests for luxury cars and the ever-more-expensive 'x' whether their current disposable income covered it or not. And don't forget the regular fourth wall breaks when a Sim looked up at that same god and complained, very vocally, about having to wash the dishes.

Also, Sims 2 has some of the most recognizable and iconic characters in the franchise. Pleasantview is especially notorious. The neighborhood Casanova Don Lothario is engaged to Cassandra Goth, the daughter of the richest man in town, Mortimer Goth. He's having an affair with Dina Caliente, a gold-digger, who is Mortimer Goth's young love interest and former sister-in-law. Not to mention, Don's also seeing Dina's twin sister Nina and neither one knows about him being involved with the other. That's just scratching the surface of the soap-operatic nonsense of Pleasantview's overall story.

Many Simmers have touched on the prompts that pop up when a player first enters the house of a pre-made Sim in one of the three playable neighborhoods from the Sims 2 base game: Pleasantview, Strangetown, or Veronaville. The prompts suggest the player invite the maid to hang out after her shift to kick off an extramarital affair or to use a gnarly-looking vacuum to suck up skill points from the nearby unwitting test subject. The prompts work in concert with whatever story this pre-made Sim or household has. It's a start to a sandbox choose-your-own adventure story as well as a unique means to introduce the player to what mechanics and chaos the game allows. Don Lothario's nonsense is a decent starting place for showcasing how many different romantic relationships a Sim could have as well as the consequences for cheating if they get caught.

There's so much attention to detail. Players glean further story details from poking around through a Sim's relationships panel, their memories, their family tree, the artfully crafted screenshots in their family's virtual scrapbook. In the classic "Bella was abducted by aliens" plotline, there's so much room for connecting the dots between the screenshot of Don and Bella on Don's condo rooftop, Don's memory of getting rejected for a make-out, the Caliente sisters having an extraterrestrial grandparent. There's enough of a story thread and parts to put together, it stirs the imagination. There's so many possibilities for what led to the game's present-day and so many different directions it could go from that present-day.

In a nutshell, the Sims 2 has the right mix of attention to detail and ambiguous, but engaging story threads that the characters and stories still captivate players 20 years later.

[enelea]

Episode 7 - A family's sadness

Nina secretly hoped that Don would eventually get over Cassandra's death and that she could rekindle their relationship, but she also didn't just want to be his rebound girl. She looked at her sister's little boy and started wondering if she would ever have the opportunity to have children of her own. She had a dream of her and Don having a family together and thought of the dream often.

One night, she went to Doc Allan's Hangout, hoping to meet someone interesting. She sat at the bar and noticed Don walking in and then turning around to leave again. She ran after him and caught up with him in the parking lot. "Are you Ok?" She asked as she saw him leaning against his car. She heard him sobbing. "It will never be ok again, how can it be?" Nina cupped his face in her hands. "Come with me, Doc Allan's isn't the place for you right now. Where's your daughter?" "She is spending the night with your sister and Mortimer." "Ok, get in." "Where are we going?" Don asked in a raspy voice. "Don't worry, just trust me."

Nina spoke to Don and mostly listened as he sat on her living room carpet getting his feelings off his chest. She prepared them a light dinner and they had some wine, which she said was probably better than what they would get at Doc Allan's. Unfortunately, they had too much of that as the events that followed weren't so clear to any of them, but they did wake up in a disheveled state in her bed. "Not a word of this to anyone please, Nina ", Don said as he got dressed. "You know you can trust me Don." He turned and gave her a warm hug, "Yes, I know and thank you for wanting to help. Don't worry about me. I will be ok." Nina hoped he would continue to confide in her.

Mortimer would have never believed that he would outlive his beautiful daughter. The loss was almost too much for him to bare. If it wasn't for his other children, granddaughter and Dina, he would have died of a broken heart. Dina comforted him as well as she could but then it was his turn to help her as she suddenly became very ill and was driven to the confinement of her bed for quite a while.

[magicofsimplestories]

5. An unexpected circumstance

At first she thought it’s her body’s usual reaction to gluten. However, when the morning sickness returned the next day twice as hard, Dina didn’t hesitate to take a pregnancy test. And it came out positive. 

She shared the news immediately with her beloved man, who was lucky to have a day off at such an important moment of their relationship.

Mortimer was shocked, as he never expected nor planned to become father for the third time. But he was over the moon. How couldn’t he be? The woman, who gave him love at the most difficult time of his life, the woman of his passion and desire was now carrying his child. He was living a dream and he couldn’t be more happy about it.

Gentleman Mortimer didn’t hesitate to express his joy and gratitude. The same day he invited Dina on a date and before taking their table at the the best Willow Creek restaurant he proposed to her. Dina, on her side, didn’t hesitate to scream her excited “Yes”. 

Upon arriving home Mortimer sent Dina to bed and gathered his kids for an important announcement.

Alexander was sincerely happy to learn the news but didn’t have a chance to express his feelings out loud, as Cassie was faster to rain upon her dad another hurricane of accusations and swear words. 

“ENOUGH, Cassandra!” roared Mortimer. “Either you like it or not, Dina is the woman of my choice, carrying my child, your sibling. As long as you’re my responsibility, you will accept this, you will respect this woman. The day you come of age you’re free to make your own choice. But don’t forget that in case your choices will lead you to some unpleasantries, you will have only me left to offer you unconditional help.”

Cassandra left the dining room saying nothing in response. 

“I’m happy for you, dad,” said Alex in a low voice, making Mortimer smile feebly but gratefully. “And I’m excited to meet my new sibling. As for Cassie, please, don’t be mad at her. It will grow on her. She will melt apparently. I will talk to her.”

Mortimer sighed. 

“I’m so proud of my son,” he said with his smile getting wider and warmer. “Thank you for your support, Alexander.”

The boy found his sister in the kitchen, finishing her dinner gloomily and silently. 

“Did he send you?” She asked angrily without looking at her little brother.

“No,” responded Alex calmly. “Dad didn’t ask me anything. It’s me.”

“What is it, Alex?” grumbled Cassandra impatiently. 

“You know, I had a chance to talk to Dina. She seems nice…”

Cassie’s expression darkened. 

“Don’t get mad, Cassie,” Alex hurried to add. “I just wish that you gave her a chance. Don’t you see that she makes daddy happy?”

Cassandra didn’t respond and looked away. Alex smirked knowing that it was the sign of his big sister considering his words. 

“Fine,” she said finally. 

A wide smile appeared on Alex’s face. 

“You’re the best sis!” He exclaimed. “You know that no matter what you will always be my favorite member of the family, right?” He added offering his big sister a hug. 

“And you’re mine, my smart little brother,” laughed Cassie accepting the hug. 

[Beginning] [Back] [Next]

[eizthetics0226]

Thanks to her marriage to Mortimer, Dina is now living the life that she's been dreaming of - Relaxing, shopping, gambling... swimming in cash!!! 💰💎💄💋👠

[merluvlee-sims2]

Pleasantview - Caliente: Prologue #1

Dina hummed to herself as she mixed up a vodka tonic. Mortimer was coming over in a bit, and she had a feeling that today was the day.

She was glad that her twin sister was upstairs preening herself. Nina would have something to say about Dina's day drinking. But surely, her pending engagement was a good enough reason to celebrate!

After growing up in poverty, Dina became obsessed with the lavish lifestyles of the rich and famous. She spent her teenage years desperately trying to manifest everything that she couldn't have: a fancy car, designer clothes, beautiful furniture, plastic surgery. Dina's greatest ambition was to become a trophy wife and spend the rest of her days living out her childhood dreams.

After all, after everything she'd been through, didn't she deserve to be happy?

[blacksheep28]

Pleasantview Community News

Vol 4

Last newsletter brought joyful tidings of change. Sorrow comes on the wings of this one. All life must come to an end at one point or another. At least it wasn't in tragedy.

Goth

We all knew Mortimer was old, but his death still comes as a terrible shock. Alexander now finds himself living alone in the Goth family home with a stepmother he barely knows. Dina herself seems to be comforting herself from her husband's death just fine. Recently Dina has revealed herself to be pregnant, and claims that it is Mortimer's from the last time they were together. Her relationship with Don took no time at all from Mortimer's death to get hot and heavy once more however. Alexander has been reaching out to his sister in these times. The siblings are distant from each other, but they both loved their father, and Cassandra is willing to make the attempt when she has the time from her new family.

Dreamer

Cassandra and Darren have had a baby together! Little Edward has entered the world, and is a bundle of joy that adores his mother. Dirk has been focusing on his dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer, so hasn't had as much time for the new baby. Cassandra is stricken by the death of her father, but she finds comfort in her husband and child.

Pleasant

Mortimer was not the only death to strike the community. Herb Oldie perished in his sleep. Coral was devastated to lose her husband of so many years, and moved in with her daughter's family. There was plenty of room for her, as the twins Lilith and Angela have moved on to college and are busy studying there. Angela plans to move back once she's graduated, but Lilith dreams of striking out far from them. Coral has adopted a cat, Alegra, to keep her company in the house while Mary Sue and Daniel are busy with their jobs. Mary Sue and Daniel are entering their own twilight years now, but hopefully will still be here when their daughters graduate.

[lonerswhimsie]

My Pleasantville Rotation Round 1 Summary

I think I’ll do some Sims 2 story summary once in a while because it makes me enjoy my gameplay more and keep my blog active. Don’t worry, it won’t be too often and flood my blog, I promise! ✒️🛣️

🍁 Lothario-Goth Household (Cassandra, Don, Victor, Nicolo, Tuxedo🐈‍⬛)

Cassandra Goth finally gets married to Mister Lothario, they have two beautiful children, both male. Their name is Victor and Nicolo, after their great-great-grandfather and their grandfather. But oh no, don’t get it wrong, she hasn’t tamed the playboy down at all. He still has a wondering eye, only his new fatherly duty delayed him a little. He’s still a great father after all.

💵 Goth Household (Mortimer, Dina, Gabrielle, Olivia)

Dina finally got a hold of her bag, but for extra security, she decided to have a baby with Morty. Wait, but I thought you had Gabrielle AND Olivia? Yeah... Olivia is an oops baby... Oops… Oh well, extra secure I guess. But Dina isn’t so fond of child care, so most of the work falls on Mortimer. He’s not complaining tho, he loves them. And remember when I said Lothario still has a wandering eye? He comes to visit Dina every day! So scandalous.

🎀 Girlies Household (Nina Caliente, Kaylynn Langerak, Peek-a-boo🐹)

After getting fired from “The Pleasant Housewreking Incident”, Kaylynn finds comfort in Don Lothario. He knows about the incident from his wife and suggests she move in with Nina (his other fling), she’s been looking for a new roommate after her sister moved out. So Kaylynn did, and they’re so compatible it’s awesome. But this still isn’t a life Kaylynn wants, so she keeps working and saving money so she can move out and start her own family soon. Oh, what about Nina? Yeah, nothing much, she’s happy with what she has now. But she does become a dancer, a girl gotta pay bill somehow.

🏠 Pleasant Household (Daniel, Marry-Sue, Angela, Lilith)

Marry-Sue caught Daniel cheating on her with the maid, but luckily she got a promotion that day so she didn’t have a mental breakdown. Well, I guess luckily for Daniel too because, in the end, he manages to climb back into his wife's bed. Poor Lilith still lives a miserable life, but she plans her escape with her law job. She wants to be a lawyer/judge and get justice for every mistreated teen. Go, Lilith!

🧓🏻 Oldies Household (Herb, Coral, Buffy🐕)

Both Herb and Coral go back to pursue their dream job, what are they gonna do in their free time if not more work? Herb works in music and Coral in oceanography. That’s not the most shocking, they start having polyamory relationships with none other than Kaylynn Lagerak! Oh my.

🍼 Broke Household (Brandi, Dustin, Beau, Skip Jr.)

Brandi popped out her unborn baby, it’s a boy! So she named him Skip Jr. She always loved babies but WATCHER this one she swore was a devil reincarnate because he’s so difficult! He says no to everything, making Brandi not want to have any more babies EVER. So Homegirl starts focusing on feeding her family instead, sadly she gets fired from her first job tho. But the kids (except Skip Jr.) seem doing good, Dustin found his love in drawing, and Beau in cooking!

🎨 Dreamer Household (Darren, Dirk)

Nothing happens much tbh. Darren guy still in love with Cassandra, oh, Dirk won’t do his homework anymore. If he keeps it up he might not be able to go to college. But hey, at least Darren and Dirk are really close now.

🌾 Burb Household (John, Jennifer, Lucy, Paul)

Nothing much happened in this household, except Jennifer thrived in the business career... and other oops baby. Hey, but at least this one is long-wanted by his dad. Can’t say he’s been taken care of so well though, his father is busy gardening.

[sims-for-semi]

The day Bella killed Michael - a sims story

“Do you want to be with the girl or not, Michael? Just drink the damn nectar,” Bella said wearily. Michael had noticed long ago that Bella was acting differently, but today she was particularly pissed off for no apparent reason.

“Didn’t you say it wasn’t ready yet? That you and Mortimer were feeling older?”

“Not anymore. It’s working. You just have to be in a good mood to receive it.”

“Have you been in a good mood, Bella?”

“Don’t I look younger?”

“Younger, but… gloomier.”

“Well, imagine. My brother is dating a girl who is my daughter's age, how am I supposed to feel?”

Time later, Bella would remember that exact day when her brother began to die. It was a cold morning, particularly foggy at 165 Sim Lane. Although Michael didn’t live in Pleasantview, he visited often, and the last time he had brought not only his new girlfriend, Dina, but also her twin sister, Nina. At first Bella thought it was a joke (“You brought two of Cassie's schoolmates to my house?”), but then she felt quite hushed. Nina was quiet, but fiercely bold in her comments. And Dina was charming. Even Bella couldn't argue with that. She had never felt so threatened in her own home. Everyone was captivated by her presence. Even Mortimer, her Mortimer. 

Michael would later confess his concerns about the relationship. "I love her, Bella. I love her, but come on, I'm not twenty anymore. She says she feels the same way I do but what can I offer her?"). And while Bella wasn't particularly happy about the relationship, she did hate to see her brother troubled. She could barely stand the sight of her grumpy old husband, her solitary teen daughter, and her handful toddler. If Michael wanted to rejuvenate, she could give him exactly what he needed.

“She’s not a girl, Bella.”

“She’s so young. Perfect skin, perfect hair. I never got to be that young.”

“What do you mean?”

“I got married to my childhood friend, had a daughter in my late teens… I stopped being young a long time ago. But you get to be young with your brand-new girl. Enjoy it. Drink the nectar.”

Michael wasn’t sure of it. He didn’t trust the nectar. Heck, these days he couldn’t even trust Mortimer. He couldn’t trust him, nor Bella. What had happened to her? She used to be such a loyal, brave girl. Now all she did was act like she was some sort of tragic heroine, like she could never have any fun. Maybe that’s why they had grown apart the last couple of years.

Bella thought the same about her brother. He was this popular kid in school, a sports enthusiast, the ideal son… all of that changed. Being a bachelor for so long had made some changes in his personality, she believed. Not like she hadn't changed, clearly, but at least she was already married with two children and her husband was loaded. Basically, life was solved. Michael seemed to be pursuing his teenage dreams by falling in love with a young girl. Because she was, indeed, a girl. Bella couldn't get it through her head that Michael was willing to leave everything behind to commit himself to a girl who had barely finished high school.

Perhaps in a way, she was a little jealous. Nothing could scare her more than getting old. There had been a couple of nights in which she woke up in the middle of the night because of a nightmare, and Mortimer was always there to pacify her. All the nights spent at the Science Facility were for him, a little expression of his commitment to making his wife happy.

“I just want you to be happy. I can help you with that,” Bella had told her brother. If Mortimer wasn’t around, at least she could help Michael to be with the girl of his dreams. And whether she liked her or not, she had already accepted that Dina would be part of the family, albeit with much resistance. The foolish fear of ceasing to be the woman of the family and giving way to a younger and more beautiful one. Everything was going to be all right if they both drank the elixir of life. 

“I don’t like this, Bella,” he expressed after pouring a glass.

“Stop being a coward, Mike.”

“No, seriously, I don’t like this…” Michael started to choke. He felt his insides begin to close up, leaving little room for the green liquid to make its way down his throat. The foul liquid felt like a thick grease boiling, calcining his esophagus and finally landing in his stomach. But that wasn't the worst of it. Just when Michael thought the bitter pill was ready, he began to feel his skin thickening, and his gums stiffening. His nose felt nothing but a sulfur smell, and everything began to spin. His brain was throbbing like it was bubbling blood. “Try to think of something nice. Think of Dina,” said a voice, but he wasn’t sure if it was his or Bella’s. 

Finally, after a short blackout, Michael regained his mobility.

“Okay, how do you feel?” said his sister.

“Awful. That’s awful, Bella, how could you possibly drink this? How long have you been doing this?”

“Years. But look at me. I almost look as young as those darn Caliente sisters, don’t you think?”

“Well, I can’t tell if I feel any younger. It may have worked in reverse on me.”

“Yeah, that’s going to happen the first couple of times. You just need to be consistent.”

“Does that mean I have to drink this again?”

“Indeed. Until you make it.” Bella chuckled at Michael’s look of fear. “One day at a time.”

The activity was repeated. Day after day, Michael visited his sister and drank the strange liquid created by his brother-in-law to feel younger. Occasionally, it worked. Sometimes the drink was sweet as ambrosia, and he just wanted to drink more and more of it, only to later visit his beloved Dina. Some other times, the most frequent, the liquid was horrible. Bella told him that it would always be like this, that she was used to it, he would get used to it too.

She even found it amusing. At last, her age and her brother's were approaching the non-existent limbo of being able to put the world on pause and have the youth of their choice, even if they had to pay the consequences later. It wasn't until after the wedding, when Bella and Mortimer's relationship was more strained than ever, that Michael arrived at the Goth Mansion with a somber expression.

"What's going on, Michael?"

“I need the liquid,” he said, devastated.

“What happened?”

“I think Dina is cheating on me,” he said as if at a loss for words.

Bella looked at him in horror, but refrained from saying a thing. Perhaps because, mistakenly, she already knew. She had her suspicions, Mortimer and Dina had been way too close. So much so that he hadn't even noticed that his daughter had started dating a boy and that little Alexander was beginning to stand out at school. "Then take it," she told him, without asking any questions. Take the elixir and drink it, drink all of it. Hadn't she been doing the same thing? Drinking as much of it as she could, to feel younger, less stuck, less of a failure, so that her husband would look at her with desire and not pity as if she were a poor, useless wife in a boring suburb. She wasn't even sure if it was true, but she didn't want to know.

She wouldn’t have been able to bear it. So she watched her brother take the jar, watched him for the last time take home what little was left of Mortimer Goth's worst experiment. Goodbye, Michael Bachelor, goodbye to your divine youth, your friendly smile and your football games. Goodbye to your stupid bride and her stupid sister, both of whom Bella stopped calling immediately after his death. Goodbye to the familiar nature that used to make her feel happy and at home. Without her brother, and with her husband completely thrown into the job, Bella lost what little she had left to keep getting back on her feet day by day. Everyone could notice. Everyone but Don.

Of course, how could he know? How could the wonderful Don know that he had a murderess in front of him? Bella had barely left the house until the night the formidable young man who was dating her daughter kindly invited her to his apartment for a gentle conversation.

“Whenever I look at the stars I think of my parents, I lost them recently. Have you ever felt that way?” the young man asked, getting closer to her.

“I recently lost my brother…” she said, her eyes captivated by the ocean-blue sky.

“Yeah, I heard of it. I’m sorry. He was older than you, wasn’t he?”

“Life is very long when you're lonely,” were the last words she whispered.

--------------------

hello readers! thank you for reading me! I was willing to pull out something for simblreen, so here you go. this is my headcanon of Michael's death, and this short story is part of the same universe as my on-going story Pleasant Valley. Constructive criticism is always accepted 💝

I hope everyone has a fun and spooky halloween! 🎃

[nonsensical-pixels]

pleasantview reborn: the goths (md)

it's time to visit mortimer and dina's branch of the goth family!

family bio:

With the impending passing of their patriarch, the Goth clan has fallen into a sombre, yet forcefully cheerful, mood. Will Mortimer pass peacefully, or will long-hidden family secrets come to light before he can?

Mortimer Goth

Now that he's getting on in years, how will Mortimer, cheerful and outgoing as he is, choose to spend his last days? He does have an unusual fondness for insects, which drives his green thumb son Alex up the wall.

Dina Caliente-Goth

It is often said that Dina has a mind of her own, but she is quick to disagree. She likes chocolate and enjoys the prestige and status that her marriage to the Goth patriarch gives her.

Oleander Goth

Oleander has never felt like he fits into the Goth family. With his strange appearance and lack of resemblance to his late 'father', Michael, it's only natural that he's grown restless under the eyes of the rumour-driven, wide-eyed Pleasantview folk. Maybe it's something to do with his blood.

Galina Goth

A strange genetic illness caused Galina to grow very ill as an infant, prompting her father, Mortimer, to place her in an advanced life-support system at a young age, in order to save her life. Contrary to her big brother, Oleander, Galina likes how she looks, and is determined not to let her illness hamper her dreams of a happy family life.

Isadora Goth

People often call Isadora a mini version of her aunt Nina, but her father always says she favours her mother. This giggling little girl seems destined for a happy, sheltered life within the Goth clan.

Cymoril (Dog)

For a member of a family stacked high with drama, Cymoril has lived quite the uneventful life. He enjoys his days spent jogging with his human mom Dina and playing fetch with the Goth siblings.

mortimer's family tree:

dina's family tree:

[hauntedtrait]

introducing: main cast of townies for my goth gameplay! 

some more detailed info on how i’ll be using these townies in my gameplay under the cut.

bella bachelor-goth & mortimer goth: they’re the main focus of this gameplay, especially bella. I just wanna go in a bit of a different direction from the widely accepted lore and explore bella more in depth, as well as her relationship with mortimer and her future. 

jocasta & simis bachelor: bella’s parents! I just wanted them to be around for her wedding, honestly. (and kinda wanna see how it goes down for her when they die. oops.) 

gunther & cornelia goth: morty’s parents, because I also wanted to have his family around for a bit. they’re rich, they’re goth, they paid for bella’s dream gothic mansion. 

michael bachelor: bella’s brother, dating dina caliente, I also made him a military man and kind of a jerk because I just think it fits, he’s got that vibe.

the calientes & don lothario: don is living with katrina and her two daughters, and uh, romancing them ALL, unsurprisingly. *plays womanizer by britney spears*. not diverting much from the classics here, really.

brandi & skip broke: recently married and moved in, having learned that brandi is pregnant... they’re living in a trailer in strangerville, trying to make things work. best of luck to these two, i guess. we’ll see...

daniel & mary-sue pleasant: seem to be happily married... for now, at least, again... who knows.

all the kids we know and love: cassandra, alexander, dustin, beau, lilith and angela aren’t born yet but they’ll be in the gameplay eventually!! 

[kevinvoncrastenburg]

Uberhood Round 1 - The Caliente Family

The Caliente family consists of twin sisters who share a cute little condo at 170 Main Street in Pleasantview.

There's Nina Caliente, who is the eldest of the two, who is very neat, active, serious and shy. I picture her to be to a hopeless romantic and inquisitive.

The other one is Dina Caliente, who's quite the opposite of her sister Nina. She is very playful, outgoing yet very sloppy and lazy. She dreams of a making it big and to live in a life of luxury. She has a plan and doesn't worry about a thing.

While Dina is sitting, waiting, wishing Nina takes the initiative and got herself a job. Right now she is working as an Aerobics Instructor in the Dance career. She finally found something what she's good at and blooms.

Whereas Dina likes to sleep until noon, watch tv and cultivating herself. (Tbh I don't know when was the last time I did any of these things)

I told you Dina has a plan and that plan is to be the next Mrs. Goth. For Dina of course it's more about the money and status than anything else but what you don't say out loud isn't real, right? Mortimer on the other hand adores Dina. She was there for him when he was at his lowest - the moment he lost the love of this life - Bella Goth. We will go deeper into that as soon as we enter the Goth family though.

I don't know why but.. mood.

Anyway that's it for the Caliente's so far. Next one: The Dreamers.

[luxtallis]

Interview with Bella Goth

Archived version here.

Bella Goth disappeared in the summer of 2004, a team of highly trained SimCity investigators traveled far and wide and managed to track her down and asked her a few questions. This is their published interview.

Rckljohnson: Where are you now?

Bella: Apparently I'm in a place called Strangetown and indeed it's an appropriate name. I'm not positive what happened or how I got here but I've begun seeing a therapist and my hypno-therapy sessions have been very productive! I've also been reading my diary, I always keep it close.

Bbygrl814916: How come you don't have any memories of Mortimer, Cassandra and Alex?

Bella: I couldn't remember anything for months after the abduction, just a flash and then nothing, but with the help of my diary and my therapist the memories are slowly starting to come back. It's hard to remember things that happened longer ago like Cassandra being born or even my wedding but I remember my family and how much I love them. I even remember some of the work Mortimer was doing before I was taken. He was getting very close to creating a permanent life extending elixir. I was worried he was spending too much time on it. He'd already been successful with a temporary version and it had become wildly popular throughout the town. I guess everybody wants to live forever!

simgelf: What happened the night you were abducted? Did the saucer crash?

Bella: I'm not sure about all the details but I've had dreams of being in some kind of ship, I don't think there was a crash or I wouldn't have woken up. I remember green men with big black eyes, it didn't make much sense then and certainly doesn't now. It seemed like only moments and I was somewhere entirely different.

Simology022: What exactly were you DOING on Don Lothario's roof the night you disappeared? How do you feel about your daughter's romantic relationship with Don?

Bella: I think Don Lothario is a misunderstood man. He moved into town and seemed so lonely. He was so different and "urban" that the neighbors wouldn't accept him. He needed a friend and we welcomed him into our lives. I think Cassandra had a crush on him from the very start and unfortunately I think he had a bit of a crush on me. I don't really think Don is right for Cassandra, but she should follow her heart - don't tell Mortimer I said that. The night I left Pleasantview I was over at Don's house talking to him about life, love, and how he was feeling being the new guy. It was a nice, warm starry evening so we were outside on the roof looking at the stars. All I remember is the flash of light and waking up in a strange place.

Chair492: Did you cheat on poor old Morty?

Bella: Of course not! I love my husband and I love my family, they are everything to me. I've never loved anyone like I love Mortimer Goth. He's just so silly, so cute, a side of him most people don't see. Most of our neighbors thought he was "too smart" or boring and that he couldn't possibly be "fun".

poochdog25: I'd like to know if Dina Caliente was in on this. I've noticed she is related to some aliens, and she came on the eve of your disappearance, and now she is after your husband. So where is Dina in the plot?

Bella: I didn't know that about Dina, but it makes sense. I'll probably never know for sure but here's what I think. When Dina and Nina moved into town they were certainly very forward with my husband. In fact, it was almost insulting how openly they were trying to win him over, as if I didn't notice! I think someone sent Dina to town specifically to pull Mortimer away from me. I know he's a genius and his work is important to a lot of people. I couldn't have possibly imagined that trying to create a life elixir that could help everyone would ever push somebody to ruin our marriage! And why take me away from him? Perhaps they thought I was a distraction and believed that taking me away from the love of my life would make him stop his work.

simslover210: What is up with all the rumors of you having a double?

Bella: I've heard these rumors and as far as I know they're untrue. I've never seen my double and I haven't heard any stories about seeing me with my double so who's to say it's a double at all? Though I bet my double isn't as cute.

PprFlwrs4: Why are you still young when your husband is old..and....really...eh..old?

Bella: I can't really explain it, maybe his work has backfired on him and instead of lengthening his life, it's aged him. Or perhaps the people that wanted to separate us somehow used his research and tested it on me, keeping me young.

WadeSimMiser: What happened to you when you decided to pay Pollination Technician #9 a visit? How would you explain this to your husband Mortimer?

Bella: I've met PT9, he's very nice! And his family is so sweet. They've been so kind to me as I get my bearings. I only wish Mortimer could have had the chance to meet him.

abonnell2000: If you had the option to go back to Mortimer, Cassie, and Alex, would you? Why or why not?

Bella: I've been trying to return to my family but so far, it hasn't worked. As I said, there's something strange about this town. It's almost as if every time I try to leave, I end up back here.

Dixiedawn30: Have you ever thought about changing your hair style? What is up with the red dress?

Bella: It works for me, why change?

[fellowstrangetownappreciator]

Playing Favorites (part 2)

Here we go again! Another 4 TS2 premades that really strange my town! (I’ll see myself out.) Anyway, I have to preface this with saying that so far I’ve only played the 3 base game hoods and although I really enjoy PV and VV, I added them to Strangetown just recently, so I’m still getting acquainted with their casts. That’s why my Playing Favorites posts are so dominated with desert-dwellers - but I definitely plan on including more non-ST Sims once I got to play with them more!

And I also low-key love everybody in Strangetown.

TOP 15 TS2 Premades (according to my personal tastes somewhere in May 2021) (not in any particular order) (and I can’t guarantee I stop at 15 either)

Tank Grunt (Strangetown)

Yes, I am one of them. I am a Tank Grunt apologist. Brace yourself!

Similarly to the Pleasant twins, I view Tank as a victim of his father (Buzz Grunt, the esteemed Strangetown's Worst Parent Award nominee). Of course, that's not to say he's innocent. He is absolutely guilty of bullying Ripp and Johnny and equally guilty of being a bigot. And, most importantly, totally guilty of casually wearing camo face-paint. (that he canonically gets tatooed on his face down the line, which is... its own kind of tragic.)

But that is exactly why I like him so much!

Let me elaborate.

Tank is a very multilayered character, albeit a bit cliché. He is very artistic a eager to always do his best, whether that is in school or home where he competes for his father's affection and approval. Buzz provides both of that but it always feels conditioned – if Tank was to stop getting A+, stop parroting his opinions, stop working out, stop following in his footsteps, would that go away? Even though the answer depends on your interpretation of Buzz and his levels of horrible, Tank definitely thinks so. Just take a look on how his father treats Ripp!

I read Tank as somebody who believes firmly in order and good but has a very twisted understanding of both given his militaristic and hyper-masculine upbringing. He has an enormous potential for character growth. Can he gain (psychological) independence of his father? Can he follow his dreams and become a dancer? Can he free himself of his father’s biases now that he’s out on his own? Can he mend his relationship with Ripp and Buck? (...or maybe even Johnny?) It makes him so fun to play.

Also, I think that it was indeed very cowardly of the developers not to set his gender preference as gay.

Conclusion: Tank is fun! (Although he would probably resent me for saying that.)

Dina Caliente (Str- wait, Pleasantview)

Finally someone who doesn't live in the desert! Both Nina and Dina are such interesting characters, with their connection to Bella’s disappearance, their alien bloodline and their opposing personalities and ambitions.

I feel like the sisters are often getting unjustly demonized. (or mixed up together, I’m looking at you, TS3 and TS4) They’re young, very attractive and in unconventional relationships, thus often labeled as predatory. They’re not.

Dina is a very nice Sim, with Nice points above the average and many Playful points and she tends to roll wants to start a family by the start of the game, although she is not a Family Sim. She’s actually a Fortune Sim, smart and business-oriented. She’s a widow who wants to remarry and has her sights set on the husband of her missing former sister-in-law.

I know that doesn’t make her sound that nice but there is nuance. First of all, the man in question is Mortimer Goth, well in his twilight years, a father of two, simply an adult. He is not a hapless trophy, the decision to start an affair with Dina not long after his first wife got pronounced missing, is his own. He knows he won’t be here for long and doesn’t want to die alone, he wants someone who can make him feel young again and loved once more. Dina, on the other hand, pursues a shotgun wedding to take an advantage of the Goth fortune that will kickstart her business ventures but she is ready to provide what Mortimer needs. She canonically loves him. (proven by the love flag in her relationship panel)

In my personal gameplay, I had Don take Dina on a date before their marriages to their respective Goths, and Dina kept rolling wants to flirt with Mortimer instead. Later down the line she also helped out the Brokes financially, and after her close friend Brandi died young in childbirth, she took in her youngest children, so that her oldest son Dustin could go to college and not worry what’s gonna become of his younger siblings in his custody while he’s gone. I figured it made sense because of Dina’s Nice points, her relationship with Brandi and her now being partially in charge of so much money it isn’t even funny.

In conclusion: I support and condone Dina! Even if it’s somehow implied that she and her sister might’ve just staged her rival’s alien abduction.

Circe Beaker (Strangetown)

Circe is yet another... unwholesome character on my list. She canonically tortures people, namely Nervous Subject, and her bio eludes to there being more in the past or the future. She's cunning, ambitious and very mean.

But she is also very fun to play! Her aspiration being Fortune (not Knowledge) puts an interesting spin on the whole evil scientist routine. She doesn't do it for the love of discovery like the Curiouses and she doesn't care about credit as her husband does. She's out for power and she may as well get it.

Her rather extreme personality would lead one to think she has to be rather disliked around the town but her default relationship panel says otherwise. She doesn't have any close friendships except her husband, though. That makes me think she is superficially charming and tends to act diplomatic to obtain people's loyalty without necessarily caring about any of them. It makes playing her unique from most other Sims.

She is also canonically bisexual! I personally have a deep appreciation for each and every Sim that Maxis sneakily preset to be LGBTQ+. I may not seem like a big deal now but it is.

Conclusion: "She could gaslight, gatekeep and girlboss me any day.” - half of Strangetown’s population

Lazlo Curious (Strangetown)

Lazlo is a ray of sunshine in the Curious household! A very sloppy ray that makes messes wherever it goes, true, but sunshine nonetheless.

I’m very fond of Lazlo because he’s the type of person that looks like he can barely count to five with his easy-going and messy nature but is in fact very clever and, by some measures, the most competent Curious brother, since he is the youngest and it seems like he’s fresh out of college, yet holds a higher career position than his older brothers. “A smart person that doesn’t necessarily seem smart on the first glance” is a trope I have a big soft spot for. (...and it shows)

In my current gameplay, Lazlo wanted to resurrect Vidcund (who died in childbirth), so he switched from Science to Paranormal to swipe a Resurrect-O-Nomitron and, like the madlad he is, succeeded before their round was over (in a span of few days). It was a combination of dumb luck and him having a compatible degree that gave him a hefty bonus but it still made me realize Lazlo could achieve whatever he sets his sights on.

Luckily, his sights are generally set on pizza and video games.

(relatable)

Anyway, I find Lazlo somehow cute, most probably for his constant and very unfruitful attempts to make Vidcund laugh, and in general, how friendly and easy to get along with he is. While he doesn’t have that many Nice points (5, which is a pretty average number), combined with his playfulness he usually tends to act very amicable.

In conclusion: I simp for Knowledge Sims and it shows.

Ok, I’ll be back with another 4 when my horrible procrastinating gruel of a brain feels like it. See ya!