#tslc gen 1

[unflirtysimmer]

Living together turned out to be easier than either Mercury or Travis had expected. Their dynamic was effortless—they each understood the other’s need for personal space. If one wanted to hang out, the other was usually happy to join. If they needed a day to themselves, it was met with no complaints or hard feelings.

Mercury, however, was at a crossroads. After some soul-searching, she decided to quit her job as a criminal. It wasn’t just about the risk anymore; the lifestyle simply didn’t fit who she wanted to be. Her time on Earth was meant to be about growth and connection, and she realized she needed a career that didn’t conflict with those goals.

While searching for her next step, Mercury filled her days with quiet hobbies, brushing up on her chess skills. The game had become a soothing escape and a way to keep her mind sharp. Sometimes Travis joined her at the board, though his moves were often distracted by his work.

He was knee-deep in a massive programming project assigned by his company, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced with moments of intense focus. Mercury would glance at him from across the room, hunched over his laptop, muttering strings of code under his breath. Despite his busy schedule, he always made time to cheer her on during her chess games or ask about her day.

“I’ll never be as good as you at this,” he said one evening, moving a pawn before glancing back at his laptop. “But hey, if chess ever involves debugging, I’m your guy.”

Mercury laughed, capturing his queen with a knight. “You’re better than you think. But I’ll take you up on that offer if the rules ever change.”

Their shared moments, whether in silence or laughter, reminded Mercury that she’d made the right choice inviting Travis into her life. The future felt uncertain, but with him by her side, it was a little less daunting.

[fire-and-sparks]

some skill building

[forgotten-elves]

Playing the Space Legacy by @simsandstrawberries (with aliens of course)

Full screenshots under the cut

[simsandstrawberries]

Mercury: Oh boy, I can’t wait to see what my wonderful husband has been up to on the beach!

The husband in question:

<< | >>

[unflirtysimmer]

Inside the gym, Mercury quickly made her way to the leg curl machine, setting herself up for the first exercise of the day. The rhythmic sound of the machine’s weights clinking filled the air as she began her sets, focusing on the controlled movement of each rep. The burn in her legs was familiar, almost comforting—it reminded her that she was pushing herself, testing her limits.

As she settled into her routine, she overheard the chatter from Paolo and Ozzy, who were standing a few feet away, chatting in front of the pull-down bars. Paolo was leaning casually against the equipment, flashing his usual cocky grin, while Ozzy stood a little farther back, hands in his pockets, clearly unbothered by the conversation.

Paolo (with a grin): “You know, you really oughta hit the gym more often, Ozzy. Girls love a guy with arms like these." He flexed his biceps, a playful but confident smirk on his face.

Ozzy (smirking back): “Yeah, and girls love a guy who doesn’t spend all his time flexing in the mirror,” he shot back, his tone light and teasing.

Paolo chuckled, throwing up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll give you that one. But you have to admit, I’m the one with the real moves.”

Mercury rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile at the banter. She wasn’t sure how Paolo managed to stay so confident all the time, but his charm had a way of rubbing off on the group—sometimes in hilarious ways. Ozzy, on the other hand, was always quick with a comeback, and his easygoing attitude kept the group dynamic grounded.

She finished up her leg curls and moved to the pull-down bars, setting the weight before beginning her sets. As she pulled the bar down with controlled power, she listened to Paolo continue his one-sided conversation with Ozzy, clearly undeterred by the fact that Ozzy wasn’t paying him much attention.

Paolo: “You know, man, you’ve got potential. You just gotta take advantage of it. Maybe I’ll show you how to lift properly sometime. I’m not saying you’re doing it wrong, but…”

Ozzy (interrupting): “Uh-huh. Let me guess, you’re gonna make me follow your expert advice while you check yourself out in the mirror?”

Paolo laughed and shrugged. “Maybe. But at least I’m giving you the tips you need.”

Mercury finished her set and shot a glance over at them, shaking her head with a chuckle. She wasn’t about to join in on their conversation—she was here to work, after all—but she couldn’t help enjoying the energy they brought to the gym. It was these little moments of lightheartedness that made the gym feel like a place she could be herself, even as she continued her mission of understanding Earth and its inhabitants.

[unflirtysimmer]

Six months had passed since Mercury had been left in the sandy desert town. The days were long and hot, the nights cool and quiet, and Mercury had settled into a rhythm, blending in as best she could with the humans she had come to study. Her luminous features had been cleverly masked with a bit of human ingenuity—her disguise helped her fit in, though her sharp wit and curious nature often set her apart.

Adapting to human life had been anything but straightforward. Without a past, finding work was nearly impossible, and her curiosity about Earth’s darker side led her to the criminal underworld. The job wasn’t glamorous, but it kept her afloat and introduced her to contacts who specialized in obtaining "unofficial" paperwork. Though she questioned the legality of the documents, they worked well enough to establish her as a citizen. With these, she secured a modest house in Oasis Springs, a quiet suburban neighborhood where her neighbors didn’t pry.

To balance her unconventional job, she sought connection. She joined a local fitness club called the Powerhouse, where her natural athleticism quickly earned her respect and camaraderie. The club became her sanctuary—a place where she could blend in, build relationships, and learn the nuances of human friendship.

[unflirtysimmer]

The UFO hovered silently over the sandy expanse, its metallic sheen catching the faint glow of the stars above. Below, in a quiet desert town surrounded by dunes, Mercury stood with her alien parents, their forms glowing faintly in the moonlight. She glanced around, her blue hair catching the light as her luminous eyes took in her new surroundings—a world both foreign and fascinating.

Her father, tall and commanding with an aura of quiet authority, placed a steady hand on her shoulder. "Mercury," he began, his voice carrying the weight of their mission across the still night, "this is where your journey begins. You must learn their ways—their emotions, how they love, grieve, and hope. Study their technology, crude but resourceful. Observe their strengths and their weaknesses. Only through understanding them can we comprehend their place in the cosmos."

Her mother, radiating warmth and tenderness, crouched beside her, placing a small, iridescent charm into her daughter’s hand. "This charm will remind you of home," she said softly, her voice a contrast to her husband’s commanding tone. "Immerse yourself fully in their world, Mercury. Learn all there is to know about life—its beauty and its fragility. When you have understood it all, you will return to us, carrying the wisdom we seek."

Mercury nodded, her resolve firm, though a flicker of doubt lingered in her mind. Would she be able to fulfill their expectations? The UFO began to hum softly, the ramp retracting as her parents stepped back into its gleaming interior. They looked at her one last time, their expressions unreadable but filled with the weight of both pride and expectation.

In an instant, the craft shot upward, leaving behind only a faint shimmer in the night sky. Mercury turned to face the distant town, the faint glow of its warm lights flickering against the vast, empty desert. She placed her hands on her hips and smirked. “Well, if they can survive out here, this should be a piece of cake.”

With a confident stride, she started toward the town, her curiosity and determination burning brighter than ever.

[unflirtysimmer]

Space Legacy Challenge

Hi everyone! I'm Bayleigh, as some of you might remember. I used to be all over simblr when I was in high school and started posting my Not So Berry Challenge, I'm A Lover Challenge, Shameless Legacy Challenge, Cliches Challenge, and Midnight Sun Challenge. I even made a very bad legacy of my own called Brooding Teen about vampires. Here is my navigation page if anyone is curious...

That was nearly 8 years ago I think... since then I have graduated college, and with my newfound time that I'm not in school I decided to do another challenge after many years of neglecting my account.

I will be stating the Space Legacy Challenge by @simsandstrawberries

Apparently everyone had the same idea of doing this challenge using aliens?... so I will be doing the same :) I will be posting the first post tomorrow!

[unflirtysimmer]

Steam rose lazily from the bubbling water as Mercury and Blaze slid into the hot tub, the warmth soaking into their muscles. For a moment, they sat quietly, letting the stillness of the water settle around them. Then Blaze leaned back with a dramatic sigh, running a hand through his damp hair.

“Ah, this is the life,” he said with a grin. “Hot tub, good company, no emails from my boss blowing up my phone... What more could a guy ask for?”

Mercury chuckled softly, relaxing into the water. “You’re one of those ‘live for the weekend’ types, huh?”

“Absolutely,” Blaze replied, pointing a finger at her. “Work hard, play harder. That’s the motto. Speaking of which, do you even meme, or are you one of those ‘I only read the news’ types?”

Mercury raised an eyebrow. “Do I even meme? Are we seriously starting the conversation like that?”

“I need to know,” Blaze said with mock seriousness. “It’s a crucial personality trait. Top five things to know about someone, easy.”

Rolling her eyes, Mercury smirked. “Okay, fine. I’ve seen a few memes, but I’m not living and breathing them or anything.”

Blaze gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. “Not living and breathing memes? How are you even surviving out here?”

“Pure stubbornness,” she replied dryly, and they both laughed.

“So, if memes aren’t your thing, what is?” Blaze asked, leaning forward slightly. “What keeps you going when you’re not crushing it on the treadmill?”

Mercury hesitated for a moment before answering. “Honestly? I’ve been... figuring that out lately. Life’s been kind of weird recently. I used to be all about athletics, but now? I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure out what’s next.”

Blaze nodded, his grin softening into something more genuine. “Yeah, I get that. Life has a way of throwing curveballs. But hey, figuring it out is part of the adventure, right? And if you ever need advice, I’m your guy. I’m pretty much a guru on balancing chaos.”

Mercury smirked. “Chaos? Like what, managing spreadsheets and TikTok trends?”

“Exactly!” Blaze said, snapping his fingers. “See? You do get me.”

She laughed lightly, feeling herself relax. “Okay, your turn. What’s your deal? What’s the cringiest thing about you?”

“Oh, where do I start?” Blaze said, rubbing his chin dramatically. “I work in business—office job by day, party animal by night. I know every TikTok dance, every viral meme, and I throw the most legendary ‘mandatory fun’ office parties.”

“That sounds horrifying,” Mercury teased.

“It is,” Blaze admitted with a laugh. “But it’s my horrifying. Gotta keep life interesting, you know?”

Mercury smiled, swirling her hand in the water. “You know, I’ve been feeling more like myself lately,” she admitted softly. “And I think meeting you kind of helped with that. So... thanks.”

Blaze raised an eyebrow, grinning faintly. “I helped? Not sure how, but I’ll take the credit. Seriously, though, I’m glad to hear that. You seem cool, so it’s nice knowing you’re doing better.”

Mercury chuckled. “I don’t know if I’d call myself cool, but... thanks.”

As the conversation continued, they found an easy rhythm, sharing bits and pieces of their lives without diving too deep. The warm water and relaxed atmosphere made it easy to talk, and for the first time in a while, Mercury felt herself genuinely enjoying someone’s company. Blaze’s over-the-top personality was unexpected, but it was exactly the breath of fresh air she needed.

[unflirtysimmer]

Mercury gestured toward the pool area. “I was about to hit the hot tub and relax for a bit. You just finish up a workout too? Want to join me?”

Blaze considered for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, I could use that. Just wrapped up some yoga.”

“Perfect,” she said, her smile growing.

They headed toward the pool room together, the atmosphere lighter than before. As they walked, Mercury felt a little less tense—grateful for a small step toward normalcy.

[unflirtysimmer]

As Mercury stepped off the treadmill and grabbed her water bottle, she spotted Blaze coming down the stairs. His curly hair was slightly damp, and his calm, collected demeanor stood out against the busy gym atmosphere. Their eyes met, and he gave her a polite smile as he approached.

“Hey,” Mercury greeted with a small wave, stepping closer.

“Hey,” Blaze replied, his tone friendly but neutral. “You look like you’ve been putting in work.”

Mercury nodded, then hesitated. “Yeah, just trying to clear my head. Um… about the other night at the club.” She paused, fidgeting with the cap of her water bottle. “I wanted to say sorry if I came off rude or... off. I wasn’t in a great place.”

Blaze tilted his head slightly, his expression softening. “No worries. It wasn’t a big deal.” He paused before adding, “You okay now?”

Mercury let out a small sigh. “Better, I think. Thanks for asking.”

She stepped forward hesitantly, then wrapped him in a brief hug. Blaze froze for a second, surprised, but quickly returned it.

“Thanks for being cool about it,” she said as she pulled back, offering him a small smile.

Blaze gave a slight shrug, a hint of a smile on his face. “It’s all good. Glad you’re feeling better.”

[unflirtysimmer]

After tightening the last bolt on the loose cabinet and tidying up the scattered clutter around the house, Mercury decided she needed more than just busywork. The gym had always been a sanctuary of sorts—a place where she could channel her emotions into something productive. Maybe a good sweat session would help clear her mind.

Grabbing her workout bag, she headed out.

Once at the gym, Mercury wasted no time. She hopped onto the treadmill, adjusting the incline and speed until it felt just challenging enough. She plugged in her earbuds and switched on the sports station playing on the nearby TV. The sounds of commentators, roaring crowds, and game stats filled her ears, a rhythmic backdrop to the thrum of her sneakers against the treadmill belt.

Her mind began to drift as she lost herself in the workout. Each step felt like an outlet for the storm of emotions she’d been bottling up—grief, frustration, guilt, and a small ember of determination to move forward. Sweat dripped down her brow as her breaths grew steady and controlled.

For the first time in days, she felt a sense of release, like she was starting to leave the weight of her sadness behind on the treadmill belt. By the time she slowed down for a cool-down, her heart was pounding, her muscles were sore, and her mind was calmer.

Mercury wiped her face with a towel, a faint smile creeping onto her lips. Maybe things weren’t perfect—far from it—but in this moment, she felt a little better, and that was enough for now.

[unflirtysimmer]

Mercury wiped her tears away, letting out a shaky breath as she glanced at Nebulor, who tilted his tiny head sympathetically from inside his cage. His presence was oddly grounding, and for a moment, she allowed herself a small, grateful smile.

“Thanks, buddy,” she whispered, giving him a soft pat on the cage before standing up.

She made her way downstairs, resolving to keep herself busy. The house needed some attention—small repairs, reorganizing, anything to distract her from the ache inside. As she tightened a loose screw on a cabinet door, her mind wandered to the complexity of her situation. She still had so much to learn about Earth, about these humans and their strange yet compelling ways. Strengths, weaknesses, and, perhaps most challenging of all, the intricacies of their emotions.

Love, grief, hope—these were not just concepts to observe but experiences she had been thrust into without warning. Was she grieving now? She wasn’t sure. If this hollow, heavy weight in her chest was grief, she despised it. It made her feel fragile, vulnerable, and out of control—things she had never been prepared to face.

Mercury paused, setting the screwdriver down as her thoughts overwhelmed her. Love was supposed to be beautiful, wasn’t it? So why did it feel like it had left her cracked open, raw and exposed? Maybe hope would follow, she reasoned. Maybe this was a process, and she just had to endure it.

For now, all she could do was try to piece herself back together while piecing her surroundings together too. Maybe through fixing the house, she’d start to fix herself.

[unflirtysimmer]

Mercury sat cross-legged on her bed, her arms wrapped tightly around her pillow as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded. Tears streaked down her cheeks, leaving her blue-speckled skin shimmering in the dim light of her room. Nebulor scuttled around in his cage, occasionally pausing to tilt his head toward her, as if he really were listening.

“I’m the bad guy, aren’t I?” Mercury whispered, her voice cracking. She sniffled and buried her face into the pillow. “I lied to him. I pushed him away. I didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth. That makes me the villain, right?”

Nebulor chirped softly, his plateau-shaped bill bobbing as he made his way to the edge of the cage.

Mercury glanced up, wiping at her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater. “You agree with me, don’t you? You’re not going to sugarcoat it. Not you, Nebulor. You’re the only one who gets me.” She gave a shaky laugh, though her heart felt heavy.

She sat back and stared at the ceiling. “I haven’t even seen any of my friends since... since the Spooky Day party.” Her voice faltered, and she hugged the pillow tighter. “I’ve been avoiding them. They probably think I’m a mess—or worse, that I don’t care about them anymore. Jacob hasn’t texted me. Marcus is busy with his perfect married life. And the rest... I don’t even know where to begin.”

Her chest tightened, and fresh tears welled up in her eyes. “It’s like I burned every bridge without even realizing it.”

Nebulor tapped his horns against the bars of his cage, snapping her out of her thoughts. She glanced at him, managing a faint smile through her tears.

“Maybe... maybe I could just erase my own memory, start over. Forget him, forget them, forget this stupid mission.” Her voice wavered, and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the flood of thoughts. “But if I did that, I’d lose everything. All the progress, all the Earth knowledge... I’d be just as lost as I feel now, but I’d never know why.”

Her eyes drifted back to Nebulor. “What do you think? Would that be easier?”

The little creature wiggled his ram-like horns and chirped again, tilting his head as if to say, Don’t be ridiculous.

Mercury laughed bitterly, tears still streaming. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s a stupid idea.” She rubbed her temples, her head throbbing with the weight of it all. “But I don’t know what else to do. I ruined everything, Nebulor. And no matter how many times I replay it in my head, I don’t know how to fix it. Maybe I can’t.”

Nebulor tapped at the bars of his cage again, drawing her attention. His little movements felt oddly purposeful, like he was trying to remind her of something—maybe the strength she’d shown before, or the fact that she wasn’t as alone as she felt.

“I wish I could be as chill as you,” she said softly, reaching out to touch the cage. “Just scuttle around, eat snacks, and somehow figure everything out.”

She sighed deeply, lying back on the bed with her pillow still clutched tightly. The room was quiet save for Nebulor’s occasional chirps. Though her tears had slowed, her heart still felt like it was caught in a storm.

“Thanks for listening, little guy,” she murmured, staring at the ceiling. “You’re the only one who hasn’t left me.”

[unflirtysimmer]

Mercury stood in front of the washing machine, glaring at it like it was her mortal enemy. She had a basket of dirty laundry at her feet and a head full of frustration.

“Seriously?” she muttered, kicking the corner of the machine lightly. “I just want clean clothes. Is that too much to ask for?”

It had been years—okay, months—since she last tinkered with this stupid thing. Travis had always been the one to fix it whenever it acted up, but now... well, Travis wasn’t here anymore.

Rolling up the sleeves of her oversized hoodie, she crouched down and opened the front panel. The tangle of wires and tubing inside looked just as alien to her as she must’ve looked to Travis when she revealed her true form.

“Come on, Mercury,” she muttered to herself. “You’re a freaking alien with advanced knowledge of intergalactic tech. You can handle a glorified water spinner.”

She fiddled with a few wires, yanked out some lint clogging a tube, and tightened a loose screw. The machine groaned in protest but didn’t roar back to life. Mercury sighed and rested her forehead against it, her patience wearing thin.

"This is punishment, isn’t it?" she said aloud, glaring at the ceiling. "For what? Wanting to not smell?"

After another 20 minutes of trial and error, the machine finally rumbled to life. Mercury let out a triumphant, albeit exhausted, laugh.

“Ha! Take that, you piece of junk,” she said, slamming the panel shut and tossing her laundry inside.

As she started the cycle, she leaned back against the counter and sighed. Fixing the washing machine wasn’t just about clean clothes; it was another reminder of everything she was doing on her own now. It stung, but it also made her realize she was stronger than she gave herself credit for.

“Small wins,” she muttered, watching the machine churn away. "I'll take 'em where I can get 'em."

[unflirtysimmer]

The Uber came to a gentle stop in front of Mercury’s home, and she stumbled out, mumbling a quick thanks to the driver before making her way inside. The moment she stepped through the door, a sharp, nauseating wave hit her, and she made a beeline for the bathroom.

Barely making it in time, she dropped to her knees in front of the toilet and let the night catch up to her in the worst way possible. The cool tile pressed against her palms and knees as she stayed there, feeling drained and miserable.

Her head lolled to the side as she leaned back against the wall, pulling her knees to her chest. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady her breathing, but her thoughts drifted unbidden to Blaze.

There was something about him, something she couldn’t quite place. The way he’d handled her with such care, balancing humor with genuine concern, felt unlike anything she’d experienced before. Most people either wanted something from her or avoided her altogether, but Blaze… he seemed different.

She replayed their brief moments together: his easy jokes, the way he didn’t press her for answers but still clearly wanted her to be okay, and the strange pull she’d felt toward him despite the chaos of the night. It was ridiculous, she told herself, to be thinking about someone she barely knew, but the memory of his voice and the warmth of his touch lingered.

Mercury sighed and rested her head on her knees. "What the hell am I doing?" she whispered to herself, the emptiness in her voice echoing in the small bathroom.

For the first time in weeks, she felt something other than sadness—a confusing blend of curiosity and regret that left her wondering if Blaze had seen something in her that even she didn’t fully understand.