#twst: jill smith

[pixeldolly]

Pollination Technician #9 Smith

When PT9′s alien spaceship crashed on the outskirts of Strangetown, people were understandably scared.

“I come in peace”, he told them. 

At first, they didn’t believe.

Then, over time, people came to accept him as one of their own. After all, why not? PT9 was just an all-around great guy! A loving husband, devoted father, valued member of the community.

Few people remembered the fear, the suspicion, the questions surrounding his forced landing on Sim Earth, or the fact that he was seen returning to his crashed ship more than once in those days, stealing away into the night with unknown alien artifacts.

One simply did not think of such things. Could not.

Jenny Smith

The eldest of six siblings, Jenny has always dreamed of having a large family of her own. 

She first met PT9 when he staggered, injured and confused, into Strangetown. She offered him help, a place to stay where he could recover away from the prying eyes of the townsfolk - and love bloomed between them. 

Or so most people think. 

In truth, Jenny has only the fuzziest recollection of those early days. All that matters is that she loves her husband, and he makes her happy.

Oh, so very happy...

Johnny Smith

Johnny feels caught between two worlds, and desperately wants to fit in. 

He thought that being popular at school and having a hot girlfriend would finally make him feel like he belonged - but that hasn’t really happened.

The image he has carefully built for himself feels fake, like a mask he hides behind.

Sometimes, Johnny doesn’t know who he is anymore.

Jill Smith

Don’t let the bright colors and pastel décor fool you; Jill takes after her dad. Highly intelligent and ruthlessly competitive, she dreams of captaining her own ship one day - a spaceship. So what if her pigmentation doesn’t match a full-blooded Sixamese’s? That doesn’t mean she can’t become a Pollination Technician, like her father!

Jill���s most recent dollhouse drama involves a murder mystery in which the protagonist genetically modifies herself to look like her victim, as a way of covering up her crime and stealing her identity. 

[pixeldolly]

SWAT - Round 1 - Smith

In order to achieve her dream of following in her father’s footsteps, Jill dedicates herself to the pursuit of knowledge and study.

She likes fit, handy sims and doesn’t care for posers who wear too much makeup.

Just as the family gathered round to congratulate the birthday girl and grab a slice of cake, they were interrupted by a high-pitched wail coming from the master bedroom.

Jenny was in labor!

[pixeldolly]

SWAT - Round 1 - Smith

I wish...to be a Pollination Technician and travel the galaxy in my own space ship...

[pixeldolly]

SWAT - Round 1 - Smith

When the entire Curious-Smith clan got together, it made for a lively gathering.

Pascal enjoyed it, and was glad that his baby would grow up surrounded by a large, supportive family.

Sure, they disagreed, they even bickered sometimes, but at the end of the day, they had each other’s backs.

Jenny was responsible for providing refreshments, which included some Santa cookies - since, as fate would have it, Jill’s birthday coincided with Winterfest!

Strangetown’s first white Winterfest in living memory, and the entire house had been decorated to mark the occasion.

As the sun dipped beyond the cliffs, the whole family gathered around the table where Jill’s birthday cake waited, 13 lit candles arrayed in the middle.

The whole family except Johnny. 

Jill told herself she didn’t care that her brother had decided to skip her birthday to go to prom with his girlfriend, whom he’d made up with after their argument. Clearly, Ophelia Nigmos was more important than his sister!

But she did care, and it slightly soured her otherwise great mood.

[pixeldolly]

SWAT - Round 1 - Smith

Months passed.

One day, Johnny went out to check the mail while his parents were busy getting things ready for Jill’s birthday party, and had the displeasure of running into Tank Grunt.

Johnny: “What are you doing skulking around my house, Grunt?”

Tank was not easily intimidated, and sniffed derisively.

Tank: “The sidewalk doesn’t belong to you, Green-skin. Gotta say, I’m surprised you’re home. Shouldn’t you be out there abducting innocent people or something?”

Angered by the slur, Johnny took a couple of menacing steps towards his rival. Tank was big and muscular like his father, but Johnny was no weakling either.

Johnny: “You’d better watch your mouth, Grunt!”

Tank: “Or what?”

Johnny: “Or we might pay you a visit soon.”

Tank looked defiant, but Johnny could see fear glinting in his eyes.

Tank: “I’m not afraid of you, Smith. Nice job telling on yourself though!”

And with a final hateful glare, Tank Grunt marched off down the street back towards his own home. Johnny regretted his idle threat; the last thing he should do was give the Grunts more ammo to use against his family. 

Meanwhile, Jill was showing off her latest A+ report card and was rewarded with praise from her father. 

She was pumped for the upcoming party, and the presents of course!

Jenny: “Happy birthday, hon!”

Jill: “What is it?!”

Jenny: “Open it and see.”

It was a new dollhouse; didn’t her mother know those were for kids? She was turning thirteen!

The guests began to arrive around 3 PM - the whole Curious clan had come bearing gifts for the birthday girl.

Jill: “A chemistry set? Thanks, aunt Lola!”

That was more like it.

[pixeldolly]

SWAT - Round 1 - Smiths

To most people, the Smiths were simply the perfect family. 

A husband and a wife who still loved each other after nearly 20 years of marriage, two beautiful, successful children, a comfortable house complete with a white picket fence and a swimming pool.

The Simerican dream.

Which was precisely the way PT9 wanted it.

PT9: “I take it your visit went well? How are the girls?”

Jenny: “Oh, the girls are fine, mostly! Chloe asked my help finding a job, apparently Lola threatened to evict her if she doesn’t start paying her dues.”

PT9 smiled inwardly; Lola was no pushover, that was for sure. The goodness of her heart - excessive as it was - had its limits.

Jenny: “But then, something...happened.”

PT9: “Oh?”

Jenny: “Erin Beaker had a...a vision. At least I think it was a vision...”

PT9′s obsidian eyes narrowed.

PT9: “What kind of vision? What did she say?”

Jenny: “It was so weird! She went pale, her eyes rolled back into her head and she started speaking in this creepy voice, it didn’t even sound like her -”

PT9: “Jenny! What did she say?”

Jenny: “Right! Sorry. She said: ‘He wakes. His breath is winter, his name cuts into the grave.’ And something else, what was it - oh, yeah! ‘Beware the empty garden.’ Does any of it make sense to you?”

PT9 shook his head. Later, when Jenny was asleep, he would examine her memories more closely, see if she’d missed any relevant details. 

Meanwhile, the two Smith children remained oblivious to their parents’ whispered conversation, deep in a neck-to-neck virtual race that was just about to have its winner.

Jill: “Haaaa, can’t catch me now - wait, NOOOO! No fair!”

Johnny snickered as he guided his avatar over the finish line, past his sister’s, who had lost its balance at the last moment and tumbled off the slope.

Jill was furious over having lost to her dumb jock brother! And after practicing that level for ages too!

Later, once the kids had finally stopped bickering and gone to bed, PT9 led Jenny into their bedroom...

[pixeldolly]

SWAT - Round 1 - Smith

Johnny: “Dad! Mom! Look! My science project won first prize!”

It was a scale model of an alien spaceship that actually flew, and PT9 had helped Johnny construct it. His son thought he’d be more excited about the win, but instead he seemed to be ignoring him in favor of his book.

Johnny’s enthusiasm was beginning to flag, along with his mood...then PT9 looked up, smiled, and everything was all right again.

PT9: “Stellar work, son! Well done, though of course I expected nothing less.”

Johnny was beaming, basking in the warmth of his father’s approval.

Johnny: “Sooo, does that mean I can go out with Ophelia later?”

PT9: “Hmmm, it is a school night, but...all right, you can go.”

Jenny: “Will you be back in time for dinner?”

Johnny: “Probably not; I’m planning to treat Phi to a meal at the diner.”

Jenny: “Just don’t forget about your homework!”

Jill returned home from school to catch her brother primping himself in the mirror, and shook her head. He could be so vain about his looks!

Of course, Johnny also happened to pass for a full-blooded Sixamese, Jill was reminded with a twinge of envy.

Jill: “I’m pretty sure your hair looks fine, Johnny...”

Johnny: “It has to look better than ‘fine’, I’m taking Phi out on a date! Hey, do you think I should wear the blue parka or the red?”

Jill shrugged; why was he asking her?

[pixeldolly]

SWAT - Round 1 - Curious

Time flew by, and Tycho’s birthday loomed close.

The Curious-Smith clan liked to get together as often as possible, and celebrating such a milestone was an excellent excuse for a party.

Jill: “I AM THE SUPREME ROCK PAPER SCISSORS CHAMPION!”

Johnny: “AAARGHHH!”

Jenny: “Kids, play nice.”

Chloe: “...then he asked me if I wanted to have kids, and I said HELL NO, then he - Dad? Are you listening? Dad?”

Pascal twisted his head around so fast, he suddenly felt dizzy on his feet.

Pascal: “I’m glad you could make it, Joel!”

Joel: “No problem at all! You have a very nice, um, house, Pascal.”

What IS it with this guy?!