Sul sul, everyone.The story I'm about to share with you has been inspired by a series of events that took place in a save my daughter and I thought was simply a "random" game.It all began a few days ago, when I was browsing the Gallery. I was captivated by the work of some very gifted builders who had created houses based on designs from Sears & Roebuck's Modern Homes line. I love history, and I was eager to bring these pieces of Americana to life. So Z and I picked out a half dozen or so of our favorites, placed them in Newcrest, and began creating households to occupy them. One of our characters was a young adult man who lived alone in a lovely three-bedroom house. I didn't envision him as a "leading man" in any way; we originally created him for another "random" game in which we explored different things to do in the various worlds in our Sims universe. He might go skiing at Mt. Komorebi on Monday, sing karaoke in San Myshuno on Tuesday, and spend Wednesday morning learning to cross stitch in front of his fireplace. He's not dark or tormented, or terribly complicated in any way. He is the kind of fellow you'd expect to see as the main character in a Frank Capra movie. His name is Cameron Ross. https://i.imgur.com/J4f8WH6.jpgThe other evening, I was playing with Cameron as my active Sim, and I realized that the Bjergsen family had really taken a liking to him. No matter where Cameron traveled, a friendly Bjergsen seemed to appear. As the story of Cam's association with the Bjergsens took shape, I decided to write it down. There won't be many screenshots at first. I wasn't taking them, because I had no idea I'd be telling a story with them. (I'm more of a words guy, anyway.) And, occasionally I'll interject a few author's notes, explaining how the game's events shaped the story. I'll put these behind spoiler tags, so if you don't want to read them, you can simply stick to the story.I hope we'll all have fun with this. I have no idea how long it will last, or where it will go. And, so, the story begins...

Chapter 1Cameron Ross cast his line, and it landed in the water of Willow Creek with a soft plop. It was a cold winter morning--almost too cold for fishing--but Cameron had tired of indoor activities and, as beautiful as his house was, he needed to get outside its walls. An invigorating jog around his Newcrest neighborhood had lifted his spirits, and now, daydreaming about fried fish for dinner, he took a deep breath and watched his float bob on the surface of the water.A novice like Cam was no match for the elusive fish he was attempting to catch. He had just pulled in his line when he heard a voice not far away. An affable-looking man, blond and rugged-looking, greeted him with a friendly wave."I'm Bjorn Bjergsen." Bjorn's voice sounded a bit rugged, too. It fit him well."Cameron Ross. It's good to meet you, Bjorn."The two men chatted for a while. Bjorn liked to paint; that reminded Cameron that he had a half-finished canvas on his easel back home. Cam told Bjorn that he had recently moved into a house in Newcrest. Then Bjorn bid him goodbye with another wave, and went on his way. Two afternoons later, Cam was once again in the mood to explore something different. Newcrest was a neighborhood of older homes, but one lot contained a modern, well-appointed spa. That's where Cameron made his way that afternoon. He was going to give yoga a try. As Cameron made his way upstairs to the corner of the spa where yoga instruction took place, he met Bjorn, on his way back down. "I'd like you to meet my wife." Bjorn smiled and motioned to a slender blonde woman, who seemed elegant even in a fluffy white robe and slippers. Clara Bjergsen smiled at Cameron, who felt himself blush. Both Bjorn and Clara noticed this, and Clara giggled. That made Cam's cheeks redden further, just as Clara thought it might."What do you do for a living?" Clara asked him.This question always made Cameron hesitate. Truth was, he had no real career. He had a passion, however; he loved to write. Cam dreamed of one day becoming a best-selling author, able to write when and where he pleased, while he enjoyed the many other activities he was starting to enjoy. "I...I'm a writer."The Bjergsens smiled. "That's wonderful!" Clara replied. "Perhaps we've heard of some of your works?"Another long pause, and this time Cameron bowed his head slightly. "I'm not published yet. I'm still working on my first book now," he admitted. The wheels inside Bjorn's mind were turning. He told me he lives in Newcrest, he thought. Those houses aren't cheap. How does he afford to live there, without any source of income...?Bjorn's suspicion came to him naturally. Noticing details, asking questions--qualities like these made Bjorn extremely good at what he did. He liked Cameron, though, so he did his best to step out of "work mode." The young man didn't seem shifty; in fact, Cameron came across as being as far from shifty as a man could be. Bjorn's instincts rarely failed him. He decided to trust them again this time."I'm sure that won't take you long." Clara sensed Cam's unease. Her warm smile and gentle encouragement made him smile. "Thank you," he replied, the tension easing once again."I'm afraid we have to get going," Bjorn said. "Our daughters will be wondering where dinner is." "I was about to ask if you had children," Cameron added."We have two." Cameron could sense Bjorn's pride as he told him about his daughters. Sofia, a teenager, was an aspiring musician. The younger girl, Elsa, was bright and curious. "You have a wonderful family," Cameron shook Bjorn's hand. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Clara." The Bjergsens took their leave. Cam continued upstairs, barely making it in time for the beginning of his yoga class. Then, he showered, changed clothes, and headed home, just as evening fell, crisp and cold, over the quiet streets of Newcrest.

Chapter 2The girl closed her eyes for a moment, as her slender fingers made their way over the strings of her guitar. It was chilly that evening, with a brisk wind, but the Spice Festival had still attracted a decent crowd. She heard a clinking sound at her feet, and she opened her eyes at the sound. Cameron had tossed ten Simoleons into her guitar case. She acknowledged Cam's tip with a brief, brilliant smile, one Cam swore he'd seen somewhere before."She's really good." The voice of Cameron's friend, Duncan, broke his reverie. Duncan, a Newcrest neighbor, had invited Cameron out to try some curry at the Spice Festival. The food was good--Cameron hoped he'd acquire enough tolerance for spicy foods to truly appreciate it--and the entertainment was a delightful bonus.The musician finished her song. She set her guitar down, and ran her fingers through her blonde hair. Spotting Cameron and Duncan, she smiled again. "You're very talented." Cameron, who was naturally outgoing, found the composure to compliment the girl's performance. Again, he swore he'd seen that smile before. "Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed the music.""I'm Cameron Ross, and this is Duncan Edwards.""Hi. I'm Sofia Bjergsen."THAT's where I've seen that smile, Cameron concluded. It's mostly her mom's, with a little bit of her dad's. She has his eyes, too."Hi, Sofia. I've met your mom and dad." Sofia playfully rolled her eyes. "I'm really sorry," she replied quickly, with a playful grin. "I better not talk too loudly, though. Dad's over there." She motioned in the direction of a food stall, where Bjorn was chatting with two other men while he finished off a plate of pork adobo. Duncan and Cameron grinned, and Cameron tilted his head Bjorn's way. Bjorn responded with a nod of his own. "It's really nice meeting you," Sofia smiled softly. "It's time for my next set. Maybe we can talk again sometime.""I'd like that." Cam and Duncan listened to Sofia play a bit longer, before the lure of the Thai food stall was too strong to resist. They ordered their dishes and sat down at a picnic table to enjoy them."Sofia is cute," Duncan observed between bites of Pho.Cameron nodded. "She's a really good guitarist, too." "She couldn't stop smiling at you.""Maybe she likes smiling. Besides, I tipped her. She was just being nice."Duncan shook his head. "Say what you want. I saw what I saw.""Since when did you become an expert on romance, Dunc?" Duncan smiled and pointed to the ring on the third finger of his left hand. "Here are my credentials," he teased. In matters of love, Duncan had indeed been good, lucky, or both. His wife, Molly, was quiet and charming. Their toddler daughter, Rosalie, was absolutely adorable. Cameron laughed. "It doesn't matter anyway. She's just a teenager."Romance wasn't high on Cameron's list of priorities, anyway. He had met several attractive women since he'd arrived in town. He had briefly flirted with Kathleen, the bubbly yoga instructor at the Perfect Balance spa...while Kathleen had been flirting with everyone in their class. Long story short: Cameron wanted to establish himself as a writer before he entertained thoughts of love. "One day, you'll meet The One, mate. Until then, consider me your wingman.""I'm in good hands," Cameron replied.Spoiler (Highlight to read)Duncan, Molly, and Rosalie Edwards are my own creations. Duncan and Molly are based on real people: a famous English footballer who died as the result of injuries he suffered in a tragic plane crash in 1958, and his then-fiancee.Duncan, Molly, and Rosalie Edwards are my own creations. Duncan and Molly are based on real people: a famous English footballer who died as the result of injuries he suffered in a tragic plane crash in 1958, and his then-fiancee.

Chapter 3Finally, and for once, the Bjergsen home was quiet. The stereo, which had provided a constant pop music soundtrack for the evening's activities, was silent. Little Elsa, who had bounced around all evening long--inside, outside, upstairs and down, chatting amiably and asking questions--was sound asleep. So was Sofia, who had managed to participate in the lively conversation while occasionally getting up to warm herself at the hearth or dance joyfully when she heard a song she particularly liked. And Cameron Ross, whom Bjorn had invited to hang out for the evening, was probably back home in Newcrest. Over the past few days, Cameron had grown closer to each member of the Bjergsen family. One morning, he'd taken his laptop to South Square Coffee, in the Olde Platz section of Windenburg, hoping to get some work done on the children's book he was writing. He had seen Clara first, and they had chatted for a while before Bjorn joined them. Cameron had noticed Clara tapping at her phone at one point in their conversation; was it a coincidence that Bjorn appeared not long afterwards? Another afternoon, he was sitting at his computer at home, tapping away at his keyboard, again trying to make progress on his book. He spotted Sofia standing on the sidewalk in front of the house and decided it was time for a break. It was a beautiful day, not too cold or windy, and the two young people spent a good portion of the afternoon getting to know each other. Cam discovered that Sofia liked to listen to spooky music, despite her usually cheerful nature. Sofia learned that Cam had learned to enjoy wellness and fishing, and wasn't particularly fond of the color grey. "Should I change?" Sofia giggled and pointed to the short grey skirt she was wearing. Cameron stammered for just a moment. "Uhh, it's fine. I mean, your skirt is pretty. I'm fine with your grey skirt. I'm...yeah."He hadn't met Elsa until that evening, when he accepted Bjorn's invitation to the Bjergsen home. It was clear Elsa adored Cameron and, truthfully, the feelings were mutual. It began when Cameron spotted a copy of Crisis Barn, a popular mystery novel, on a dining table. "Are you or your husband reading this?" he asked Clara, motioning toward the book.She laughed. "I've already finished it. Believe it or not, Elsa is reading it now. She always leaves the books she's reading lying around."On cue, Elsa emerged, and she was clearly delighted to discover Cameron was a fan of the Ira Strauss mysteries himself. And her eyes grew wide with admiration when she learned her family's guest was writing a children's book of his own!"I read all kinds of books now, but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to read it when it's finished!""I promise you'll be the very first person who sees it," Cameron promised. "In fact, I'd like you to tell me what you think of it, so maybe I can make it better before I send it off to be published." At that moment, Elsa Bjergsen became Cameron Ross's biggest fan. Now Bjorn and Clara could sit on their sofa, watching the fire, and talk. And the topic of their conversation was Cameron Ross."I like him, sweetheart," Clara said, slipping her slender hand into her husband's. Bjorn wrapped his fingers around it, squeezing it gently."So do I. He seems genuine and real. There is a directness about him, but he's not cocky like a lot of young guys are. He seems to have his feet on the ground."Clara nodded. "Sofia says he lives in a lovely house, too."Bjorn's eyes widened. "How does Sofia know what kind of house he lives in?"Clara rolled her eyes playfully and smiled. "Relax, Dad. She has only seen the outside. She was coming back from Leila Swanson's house and Cameron saw her on the sidewalk. He came out to talk to her." https://i.imgur.com/c3QcxkQ.jpgThe Swansons--Rob, Tessa, and teens Leila and Aron--lived around the corner from Cameron. As Bjorn remembered this, his mind returned to the only thing that had ever made him wonder about Cameron. Rob Swanson was an astronaut. A family could easily afford to live in one of those nice older houses in Newcrest on Rob's salary. But where did Cameron's money come from? Bjorn would have to find out somehow.For now, he thought, I need to try to figure out what Clara is up to. Is she trying to play matchmaker for Sofia? Or...? Bjorn didn't want to believe Clara's interest in Cameron was more personal than that. She did ask me to invite him over...but she wouldn't do that if she were interested in him...would she?He hated to use his secret agent interrogation tactics on his beloved, but he needed to figure out what Clara's intentions might be. He sighed and turned to face Clara more closely, so he could read her expression--especially her eyes."Sofia is too young to date him anyway," Bjorn said, as offhandedly as he could. He watched to see how Clara responded. Without a moment's hesitation, Clara nodded her agreement. "Perhaps right now, but she won't be for long, and you know it. And wouldn't you much rather have her spending time with someone like Cameron, instead of some of the other young men we know?" Bjorn relaxed. Clara was a terrible actress and a worse liar. Had she been interested in Cameron herself, Bjorn's comment would have triggered one of her "tells." Clara blinked rapidly when she was being less than earnest, and her voice caught just a tiny bit. This time, she was her usual open, engaging self. "You have a point there. But I still think we should be careful about trying to make things happen. You know that won't work.""Or will it?" Clara smiled teasingly.

Simmers' Notes: Creating CameronZ and I have had a lot of fun bringing Cameron Ross to life. If you'd like to read more about this process, click the spoiler link. If you'd rather not know how the sausage is made, you won't miss anything if you skip this post and wait for the next one.Spoiler (Highlight to read)What a Sim Can DoAfter I'd been playing The Sims 4 for a while, I realized something interesting. Newly created Sims, regardless of their ages, come into the Simiverse with absolutely no skills. I suppose that isn't technically true; a Sim can turn on the stove and carry on a conversation, and thus begin building Cooking and Charisma. Still, these Sims, who in my mind are usually in their late teens or early 20s, have no special ability to do anything. On the other hand, premade Teens have all acquired some kind of skill. Luna Villareal is very charismatic. Her brother Hugo is well on his way to becoming a master chef. Sofia Bjergsen is equally precocious as a guitarist. Wolfgang Munch, Morgan Fyres, and Malcolm Landgraab are particularly good at wreaking havoc. Even poor Cassandra Goth, who appears to be the least gifted teen in Sim City, can play a bit of violin. Our adult Sims are doofuses by comparison. The phrase "bless your heart" comes to mind.We came up with a way to give our brand new Sims a bit of a backstory, in which they acquired some talents as teens. I developed a chart that uses several rolls of a d20 to determine what (if any) skills our Sims possess at their creation. The first roll determines whether they have no skills, one skill, or two skills. One skill is the most common outcome. If our Sim was fortunate enough to be given a skill, we roll again to determine the field in which they're talented. This is where it got tricky. At first, I put only the base game skills on the chart. There are 20 of these, so it worked out perfectly. Then we discovered that it would be more fun to add some of the more specific, esoteric skills from the expansion packs we own. I think that gave us 36 different choices. To keep it fairly simple, I paired the base game skills with skills from the packs. We roll, and then flip a coin to see which of the two skills the Sim gets.Then, we roll one more time to see how developed their skill might be. 2 and 3 are the most common outcomes, but the Sims' benevolent creators might bestow as many as 8 points on an especially fortunate Sim. We picked 8 as our limit because we haven't seen a teenage Sim with more than 8 points in any skill. If the skill has only 5 levels, we divide the outcome in half and round down. Z is our official die roller. She delights in shaping the fates of our Sims. Our favorite story is the tale of Matty Disco. He began his Sim life as Matthew O'Rourke, a generic young adult we created to do nothing more exciting than fill out a neighborhood and occasionally turn up around town. When Z rolled to give Mr. O'Rourke his skills, she hit the combination that gave him the ability to Dance. Dancing appears to be one of the few skills Sims can't use to improve their lives in any measurable ways, except by stacking up moodlets that make them better at other, more productive things. Matthew was little better off than a Squib, the term we use for the unfortunates whose first roll results in no skills at all.Fate then smiled a bit more warmly on Matthew O'Rourke. Z hit one of the two numbers that gave him 4 points for Dancing. He's a one trick pony, but it's one heck of a trick. We renamed him, gave him a makeover, and the character of Matty Disco was born. My wife heard Z squealing and both of us laughing about Matty Disco, so she came to the sofa to see what her husband and daughter were up to. She'd paid passing attention to The Sims before, but there was something about Matty--and the joy we experienced creating him--that drew her in. Now she joins us for our Sims sessions, too. A new Simmer has been born!(Matty Disco has been added to our world as an NPC. I'm not sure if Cameron will encounter him; we're hoping that he will, because he'd be fun to work into the story. I'm thinking Matty will feature in a story of his very own one day, too. ;) )Anyway, back to Cameron Ross. Cam got fairly lucky. He was given two skills: Fitness and Homestyle Cooking. While neither is useful as an occupation or a side hustle--a Painter/Writer combo can live large without ever "going to work"--he could have turned out worse. And, with 3 for Fitness and 4 for Cooking, he's decently skilled at both. His Cooking skill helps him avoid setting fire to his kitchen, and it's already enabled him to meet a friend (whom you'll meet in the next chapter of the story). The Fitness skill helps shape Cam's story, too. We send him jogging most days, and if he meets someone along the way, he might double back and talk to them. What a Sim Can DoAfter I'd been playing The Sims 4 for a while, I realized something interesting. Newly created Sims, regardless of their ages, come into the Simiverse with absolutely no skills. I suppose that isn't technically true; a Sim can turn on the stove and carry on a conversation, and thus begin building Cooking and Charisma. Still, these Sims, who in my mind are usually in their late teens or early 20s, have no special ability to do anything. On the other hand, premade Teens have all acquired some kind of skill. Luna Villareal is very charismatic. Her brother Hugo is well on his way to becoming a master chef. Sofia Bjergsen is equally precocious as a guitarist. Wolfgang Munch, Morgan Fyres, and Malcolm Landgraab are particularly good at wreaking havoc. Even poor Cassandra Goth, who appears to be the least gifted teen in Sim City, can play a bit of violin. Our adult Sims are doofuses by comparison. The phrase "bless your heart" comes to mind.We came up with a way to give our brand new Sims a bit of a backstory, in which they acquired some talents as teens. I developed a chart that uses several rolls of a d20 to determine what (if any) skills our Sims possess at their creation. The first roll determines whether they have no skills, one skill, or two skills. One skill is the most common outcome. If our Sim was fortunate enough to be given a skill, we roll again to determine the field in which they're talented. This is where it got tricky. At first, I put only the base game skills on the chart. There are 20 of these, so it worked out perfectly. Then we discovered that it would be more fun to add some of the more specific, esoteric skills from the expansion packs we own. I think that gave us 36 different choices. To keep it fairly simple, I paired the base game skills with skills from the packs. We roll, and then flip a coin to see which of the two skills the Sim gets.Then, we roll one more time to see how developed their skill might be. 2 and 3 are the most common outcomes, but the Sims' benevolent creators might bestow as many as 8 points on an especially fortunate Sim. We picked 8 as our limit because we haven't seen a teenage Sim with more than 8 points in any skill. If the skill has only 5 levels, we divide the outcome in half and round down. Z is our official die roller. She delights in shaping the fates of our Sims. Our favorite story is the tale of Matty Disco. He began his Sim life as Matthew O'Rourke, a generic young adult we created to do nothing more exciting than fill out a neighborhood and occasionally turn up around town. When Z rolled to give Mr. O'Rourke his skills, she hit the combination that gave him the ability to Dance. Dancing appears to be one of the few skills Sims can't use to improve their lives in any measurable ways, except by stacking up moodlets that make them better at other, more productive things. Matthew was little better off than a Squib, the term we use for the unfortunates whose first roll results in no skills at all.Fate then smiled a bit more warmly on Matthew O'Rourke. Z hit one of the two numbers that gave him 4 points for Dancing. He's a one trick pony, but it's one heck of a trick. We renamed him, gave him a makeover, and the character of Matty Disco was born. My wife heard Z squealing and both of us laughing about Matty Disco, so she came to the sofa to see what her husband and daughter were up to. She'd paid passing attention to The Sims before, but there was something about Matty--and the joy we experienced creating him--that drew her in. Now she joins us for our Sims sessions, too. A new Simmer has been born!(Matty Disco has been added to our world as an NPC. I'm not sure if Cameron will encounter him; we're hoping that he will, because he'd be fun to work into the story. I'm thinking Matty will feature in a story of his very own one day, too. ;) )Anyway, back to Cameron Ross. Cam got fairly lucky. He was given two skills: Fitness and Homestyle Cooking. While neither is useful as an occupation or a side hustle--a Painter/Writer combo can live large without ever "going to work"--he could have turned out worse. And, with 3 for Fitness and 4 for Cooking, he's decently skilled at both. His Cooking skill helps him avoid setting fire to his kitchen, and it's already enabled him to meet a friend (whom you'll meet in the next chapter of the story). The Fitness skill helps shape Cam's story, too. We send him jogging most days, and if he meets someone along the way, he might double back and talk to them.

Chapter 4Winter in Newcrest was cold and snowy, but Cameron enjoyed the snow. His writing career would have been better served if his attention span were longer, but after much more than an hour at his keyboard, the urge to get outside and do something--anything--usually got the better of him. The lovely snow angel that graced his front yard was proof of this. Fishing was another activity that tended to distract Cameron. The desire to put a line in the water was what led him to the village of Henford-on-Bagley one fine afternoon. The river Bagley wasn't frozen, and although it was cold, Cam spent an enjoyable two hours on its banks with a fishing pole in his hand. His total haul amounted to a tangled mess of rushes and a single minnow, but he had fun. That's what he was hoping for, anyway.When Cam felt the first nagging pangs of hunger, he walked over to an inviting pub called the Gnome's Arms. He seated himself at the bar and greeted the proprietor, a cheerful young woman called Sara Scott. She dished up a steaming serving of Beef Wellington for him, and he ordered a pint of Barley Bale to wash it down. A number of interesting people stopped by the pub, and the outgoing Mr. Ross had a good time getting to know some of them.Cam couldn't stop looking at one young woman...but not for the usual reason why a young man's head is often turned. This young woman, an attractive, curvy blonde, was emitting a soft, pulsating glow!Sara Scott noticed the way Cameron was checking out the glowing blonde. She motioned for him to lean across the bar so she could whisper in his ear."You need to be careful with that one, Cameron," she warned him. "We get aliens in here from time to time. I'm not sure, but I'm thinking she might be one of them."Cameron gulped and sat up straight. "An alien!!" he gasped. Out loud.The pub fell silent. Everyone looked at the new lad, who was trying to make himself as small and inconspicuous as possible. The blonde's eyes opened wide. Cameron felt himself blush to his toes. You had to do something stupid, didn't you? he said to himself as he lifted his pint to his lips. It was empty.A good bartender possesses a sixth sense that enables her to fix even the most awkward of situations. Too much drama isn't good for business. Sara Scott was one of these mixologists. She scowled in mock disgust. "An alien? That's who the killer was?? You HAD to spoil the ending, didn't you???" A few of the other patrons laughed. Cameron felt the tension level in the pub return to normal. Even the glowing blonde seemed satisfied with this explanation for Cameron's outburst, and began to chat with a woman seated beside her. Cam caught Sara's eye. He mouthed a silent "Thank you" and smiled. She lifted a glass in response. After a suitable interval, Cam left the pub and wandered back down the village's main street. Before long, he found himself standing in front of a grocer's stall. Cameron was fairly handy in the kitchen, and he enjoyed using fresh ingredients. After he ordered a few staples from the grocer, he struck up a conversation with her.Her name was Kim Goldbloom. Cameron liked her immediately. Kim loved to talk about life in her village, and Cameron found himself smiling at her stories. When Kim mentioned that she was feeling burdened by the number of errands she had to run, Cameron sympathized."Is there any way I can help" he asked."Actually, there is something I'd really like. I hate to ask, though." Kim smiled, and a cute dimple formed in one cheek."Ask away," Cam replied.Kim had been too busy to cook, and she was craving a serving of Aubergine Parmigiana. "You mentioned you liked to cook," the grocer pointed out. "Think you could make that dish?""Sure, I'll be happy to."Kim beamed. "And, if it wouldn't be too much to ask...would you please add a Pumpkin Scone? Just one?""You got it." The next day, Cameron returned to Kim's stall with a fresh serving of Aubergine Parmigiana and a single Pumpkin Scone. In return, Kim gave him several items. But, better than that, Cameron gained a friend.

Come What May: a short(?) Sims story

MoonlightGraham
New Scout
4 years ago
Chapter 1

Cameron Ross cast his line, and it landed in the water of Willow Creek with a soft plop. It was a cold winter morning--almost too cold for fishing--but Cameron had tired of indoor activities and, as beautiful as his house was, he needed to get outside its walls. An invigorating jog around his Newcrest neighborhood had lifted his spirits, and now, daydreaming about fried fish for dinner, he took a deep breath and watched his float bob on the surface of the water.

A novice like Cam was no match for the elusive fish he was attempting to catch. He had just pulled in his line when he heard a voice not far away. An affable-looking man, blond and rugged-looking, greeted him with a friendly wave.

"I'm Bjorn Bjergsen." Bjorn's voice sounded a bit rugged, too. It fit him well.

"Cameron Ross. It's good to meet you, Bjorn."

The two men chatted for a while. Bjorn liked to paint; that reminded Cameron that he had a half-finished canvas on his easel back home. Cam told Bjorn that he had recently moved into a house in Newcrest. Then Bjorn bid him goodbye with another wave, and went on his way.

Two afternoons later, Cam was once again in the mood to explore something different. Newcrest was a neighborhood of older homes, but one lot contained a modern, well-appointed spa. That's where Cameron made his way that afternoon. He was going to give yoga a try.

As Cameron made his way upstairs to the corner of the spa where yoga instruction took place, he met Bjorn, on his way back down.

"I'd like you to meet my wife." Bjorn smiled and motioned to a slender blonde woman, who seemed elegant even in a fluffy white robe and slippers.

Clara Bjergsen smiled at Cameron, who felt himself blush. Both Bjorn and Clara noticed this, and Clara giggled. That made Cam's cheeks redden further, just as Clara thought it might.

"What do you do for a living?" Clara asked him.

This question always made Cameron hesitate. Truth was, he had no real career. He had a passion, however; he loved to write. Cam dreamed of one day becoming a best-selling author, able to write when and where he pleased, while he enjoyed the many other activities he was starting to enjoy.

"I...I'm a writer."

The Bjergsens smiled. "That's wonderful!" Clara replied. "Perhaps we've heard of some of your works?"

Another long pause, and this time Cameron bowed his head slightly. "I'm not published yet. I'm still working on my first book now," he admitted.

The wheels inside Bjorn's mind were turning. He told me he lives in Newcrest, he thought. Those houses aren't cheap. How does he afford to live there, without any source of income...?

Bjorn's suspicion came to him naturally. Noticing details, asking questions--qualities like these made Bjorn extremely good at what he did. He liked Cameron, though, so he did his best to step out of "work mode." The young man didn't seem shifty; in fact, Cameron came across as being as far from shifty as a man could be. Bjorn's instincts rarely failed him. He decided to trust them again this time.

"I'm sure that won't take you long." Clara sensed Cam's unease. Her warm smile and gentle encouragement made him smile. "Thank you," he replied, the tension easing once again.

"I'm afraid we have to get going," Bjorn said. "Our daughters will be wondering where dinner is."

"I was about to ask if you had children," Cameron added.

"We have two." Cameron could sense Bjorn's pride as he told him about his daughters. Sofia, a teenager, was an aspiring musician. The younger girl, Elsa, was bright and curious.

"You have a wonderful family," Cameron shook Bjorn's hand. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Clara."

The Bjergsens took their leave. Cam continued upstairs, barely making it in time for the beginning of his yoga class. Then, he showered, changed clothes, and headed home, just as evening fell, crisp and cold, over the quiet streets of Newcrest.
MoonlightGraham
New Scout
4 years ago
Chapter 2

The girl closed her eyes for a moment, as her slender fingers made their way over the strings of her guitar. It was chilly that evening, with a brisk wind, but the Spice Festival had still attracted a decent crowd.

She heard a clinking sound at her feet, and she opened her eyes at the sound. Cameron had tossed ten Simoleons into her guitar case. She acknowledged Cam's tip with a brief, brilliant smile, one Cam swore he'd seen somewhere before.

"She's really good." The voice of Cameron's friend, Duncan, broke his reverie. Duncan, a Newcrest neighbor, had invited Cameron out to try some curry at the Spice Festival. The food was good--Cameron hoped he'd acquire enough tolerance for spicy foods to truly appreciate it--and the entertainment was a delightful bonus.

The musician finished her song. She set her guitar down, and ran her fingers through her blonde hair. Spotting Cameron and Duncan, she smiled again.

"You're very talented." Cameron, who was naturally outgoing, found the composure to compliment the girl's performance.

Again, he swore he'd seen that smile before. "Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed the music."

"I'm Cameron Ross, and this is Duncan Edwards."

"Hi. I'm Sofia Bjergsen."

THAT's where I've seen that smile, Cameron concluded. It's mostly her mom's, with a little bit of her dad's. She has his eyes, too.

"Hi, Sofia. I've met your mom and dad."

Sofia playfully rolled her eyes. "I'm really sorry," she replied quickly, with a playful grin. "I better not talk too loudly, though. Dad's over there." She motioned in the direction of a food stall, where Bjorn was chatting with two other men while he finished off a plate of pork adobo.

Duncan and Cameron grinned, and Cameron tilted his head Bjorn's way. Bjorn responded with a nod of his own.

"It's really nice meeting you," Sofia smiled softly. "It's time for my next set. Maybe we can talk again sometime."

"I'd like that."

Cam and Duncan listened to Sofia play a bit longer, before the lure of the Thai food stall was too strong to resist. They ordered their dishes and sat down at a picnic table to enjoy them.

"Sofia is cute," Duncan observed between bites of Pho.

Cameron nodded. "She's a really good guitarist, too."

"She couldn't stop smiling at you."

"Maybe she likes smiling. Besides, I tipped her. She was just being nice."

Duncan shook his head. "Say what you want. I saw what I saw."

"Since when did you become an expert on romance, Dunc?"

Duncan smiled and pointed to the ring on the third finger of his left hand. "Here are my credentials," he teased. In matters of love, Duncan had indeed been good, lucky, or both. His wife, Molly, was quiet and charming. Their toddler daughter, Rosalie, was absolutely adorable.

Cameron laughed. "It doesn't matter anyway. She's just a teenager."

Romance wasn't high on Cameron's list of priorities, anyway. He had met several attractive women since he'd arrived in town. He had briefly flirted with Kathleen, the bubbly yoga instructor at the Perfect Balance spa...while Kathleen had been flirting with everyone in their class. Long story short: Cameron wanted to establish himself as a writer before he entertained thoughts of love.

"One day, you'll meet The One, mate. Until then, consider me your wingman."

"I'm in good hands," Cameron replied.

Spoiler
Duncan, Molly, and Rosalie Edwards are my own creations. Duncan and Molly are based on real people: a famous English footballer who died as the result of injuries he suffered in a tragic plane crash in 1958, and his then-fiancee.
MoonlightGraham
New Scout
4 years ago
Chapter 3

Finally, and for once, the Bjergsen home was quiet.

The stereo, which had provided a constant pop music soundtrack for the evening's activities, was silent. Little Elsa, who had bounced around all evening long--inside, outside, upstairs and down, chatting amiably and asking questions--was sound asleep. So was Sofia, who had managed to participate in the lively conversation while occasionally getting up to warm herself at the hearth or dance joyfully when she heard a song she particularly liked.

And Cameron Ross, whom Bjorn had invited to hang out for the evening, was probably back home in Newcrest.

Over the past few days, Cameron had grown closer to each member of the Bjergsen family. One morning, he'd taken his laptop to South Square Coffee, in the Olde Platz section of Windenburg, hoping to get some work done on the children's book he was writing. He had seen Clara first, and they had chatted for a while before Bjorn joined them. Cameron had noticed Clara tapping at her phone at one point in their conversation; was it a coincidence that Bjorn appeared not long afterwards?

Another afternoon, he was sitting at his computer at home, tapping away at his keyboard, again trying to make progress on his book. He spotted Sofia standing on the sidewalk in front of the house and decided it was time for a break. It was a beautiful day, not too cold or windy, and the two young people spent a good portion of the afternoon getting to know each other. Cam discovered that Sofia liked to listen to spooky music, despite her usually cheerful nature. Sofia learned that Cam had learned to enjoy wellness and fishing, and wasn't particularly fond of the color grey.

"Should I change?" Sofia giggled and pointed to the short grey skirt she was wearing.

Cameron stammered for just a moment. "Uhh, it's fine. I mean, your skirt is pretty. I'm fine with your grey skirt. I'm...yeah."

He hadn't met Elsa until that evening, when he accepted Bjorn's invitation to the Bjergsen home. It was clear Elsa adored Cameron and, truthfully, the feelings were mutual. It began when Cameron spotted a copy of Crisis Barn, a popular mystery novel, on a dining table.

"Are you or your husband reading this?" he asked Clara, motioning toward the book.

She laughed. "I've already finished it. Believe it or not, Elsa is reading it now. She always leaves the books she's reading lying around."

On cue, Elsa emerged, and she was clearly delighted to discover Cameron was a fan of the Ira Strauss mysteries himself. And her eyes grew wide with admiration when she learned her family's guest was writing a children's book of his own!

"I read all kinds of books now, but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to read it when it's finished!"

"I promise you'll be the very first person who sees it," Cameron promised. "In fact, I'd like you to tell me what you think of it, so maybe I can make it better before I send it off to be published."

At that moment, Elsa Bjergsen became Cameron Ross's biggest fan.

Now Bjorn and Clara could sit on their sofa, watching the fire, and talk. And the topic of their conversation was Cameron Ross.

"I like him, sweetheart," Clara said, slipping her slender hand into her husband's. Bjorn wrapped his fingers around it, squeezing it gently.

"So do I. He seems genuine and real. There is a directness about him, but he's not cocky like a lot of young guys are. He seems to have his feet on the ground."

Clara nodded. "Sofia says he lives in a lovely house, too."

Bjorn's eyes widened. "How does Sofia know what kind of house he lives in?"

Clara rolled her eyes playfully and smiled. "Relax, Dad. She has only seen the outside. She was coming back from Leila Swanson's house and Cameron saw her on the sidewalk. He came out to talk to her."
https://i.imgur.com/c3QcxkQ.jpg

The Swansons--Rob, Tessa, and teens Leila and Aron--lived around the corner from Cameron. As Bjorn remembered this, his mind returned to the only thing that had ever made him wonder about Cameron.

Rob Swanson was an astronaut. A family could easily afford to live in one of those nice older houses in Newcrest on Rob's salary.

But where did Cameron's money come from? Bjorn would have to find out somehow.

For now, he thought, I need to try to figure out what Clara is up to. Is she trying to play matchmaker for Sofia? Or...?

Bjorn didn't want to believe Clara's interest in Cameron was more personal than that. She did ask me to invite him over...but she wouldn't do that if she were interested in him...would she?

He hated to use his secret agent interrogation tactics on his beloved, but he needed to figure out what Clara's intentions might be. He sighed and turned to face Clara more closely, so he could read her expression--especially her eyes.

"Sofia is too young to date him anyway," Bjorn said, as offhandedly as he could. He watched to see how Clara responded.

Without a moment's hesitation, Clara nodded her agreement. "Perhaps right now, but she won't be for long, and you know it. And wouldn't you much rather have her spending time with someone like Cameron, instead of some of the other young men we know?"

Bjorn relaxed. Clara was a terrible actress and a worse liar. Had she been interested in Cameron herself, Bjorn's comment would have triggered one of her "tells." Clara blinked rapidly when she was being less than earnest, and her voice caught just a tiny bit. This time, she was her usual open, engaging self.

"You have a point there. But I still think we should be careful about trying to make things happen. You know that won't work."

"Or will it?" Clara smiled teasingly.
MoonlightGraham
New Scout
4 years ago
Simmers' Notes: Creating Cameron

Z and I have had a lot of fun bringing Cameron Ross to life. If you'd like to read more about this process, click the spoiler link. If you'd rather not know how the sausage is made, you won't miss anything if you skip this post and wait for the next one.

Spoiler
What a Sim Can Do
After I'd been playing The Sims 4 for a while, I realized something interesting. Newly created Sims, regardless of their ages, come into the Simiverse with absolutely no skills. I suppose that isn't technically true; a Sim can turn on the stove and carry on a conversation, and thus begin building Cooking and Charisma. Still, these Sims, who in my mind are usually in their late teens or early 20s, have no special ability to do anything.

On the other hand, premade Teens have all acquired some kind of skill. Luna Villareal is very charismatic. Her brother Hugo is well on his way to becoming a master chef. Sofia Bjergsen is equally precocious as a guitarist. Wolfgang Munch, Morgan Fyres, and Malcolm Landgraab are particularly good at wreaking havoc. Even poor Cassandra Goth, who appears to be the least gifted teen in Sim City, can play a bit of violin. Our adult Sims are doofuses by comparison. The phrase "bless your heart" comes to mind.

We came up with a way to give our brand new Sims a bit of a backstory, in which they acquired some talents as teens. I developed a chart that uses several rolls of a d20 to determine what (if any) skills our Sims possess at their creation.

The first roll determines whether they have no skills, one skill, or two skills. One skill is the most common outcome.

If our Sim was fortunate enough to be given a skill, we roll again to determine the field in which they're talented. This is where it got tricky. At first, I put only the base game skills on the chart. There are 20 of these, so it worked out perfectly. Then we discovered that it would be more fun to add some of the more specific, esoteric skills from the expansion packs we own. I think that gave us 36 different choices. To keep it fairly simple, I paired the base game skills with skills from the packs. We roll, and then flip a coin to see which of the two skills the Sim gets.

Then, we roll one more time to see how developed their skill might be. 2 and 3 are the most common outcomes, but the Sims' benevolent creators might bestow as many as 8 points on an especially fortunate Sim. We picked 8 as our limit because we haven't seen a teenage Sim with more than 8 points in any skill.

If the skill has only 5 levels, we divide the outcome in half and round down.

Z is our official die roller. She delights in shaping the fates of our Sims. Our favorite story is the tale of Matty Disco.

He began his Sim life as Matthew O'Rourke, a generic young adult we created to do nothing more exciting than fill out a neighborhood and occasionally turn up around town. When Z rolled to give Mr. O'Rourke his skills, she hit the combination that gave him the ability to Dance. Dancing appears to be one of the few skills Sims can't use to improve their lives in any measurable ways, except by stacking up moodlets that make them better at other, more productive things. Matthew was little better off than a Squib, the term we use for the unfortunates whose first roll results in no skills at all.

Fate then smiled a bit more warmly on Matthew O'Rourke. Z hit one of the two numbers that gave him 4 points for Dancing. He's a one trick pony, but it's one heck of a trick. We renamed him, gave him a makeover, and the character of Matty Disco was born.

My wife heard Z squealing and both of us laughing about Matty Disco, so she came to the sofa to see what her husband and daughter were up to. She'd paid passing attention to The Sims before, but there was something about Matty--and the joy we experienced creating him--that drew her in. Now she joins us for our Sims sessions, too. A new Simmer has been born!

(Matty Disco has been added to our world as an NPC. I'm not sure if Cameron will encounter him; we're hoping that he will, because he'd be fun to work into the story. I'm thinking Matty will feature in a story of his very own one day, too. ;) )

Anyway, back to Cameron Ross. Cam got fairly lucky. He was given two skills: Fitness and Homestyle Cooking. While neither is useful as an occupation or a side hustle--a Painter/Writer combo can live large without ever "going to work"--he could have turned out worse. And, with 3 for Fitness and 4 for Cooking, he's decently skilled at both. His Cooking skill helps him avoid setting fire to his kitchen, and it's already enabled him to meet a friend (whom you'll meet in the next chapter of the story). The Fitness skill helps shape Cam's story, too. We send him jogging most days, and if he meets someone along the way, he might double back and talk to them.
MoonlightGraham
New Scout
4 years ago
Chapter 4

Winter in Newcrest was cold and snowy, but Cameron enjoyed the snow. His writing career would have been better served if his attention span were longer, but after much more than an hour at his keyboard, the urge to get outside and do something--anything--usually got the better of him. The lovely snow angel that graced his front yard was proof of this.

Fishing was another activity that tended to distract Cameron. The desire to put a line in the water was what led him to the village of Henford-on-Bagley one fine afternoon. The river Bagley wasn't frozen, and although it was cold, Cam spent an enjoyable two hours on its banks with a fishing pole in his hand. His total haul amounted to a tangled mess of rushes and a single minnow, but he had fun. That's what he was hoping for, anyway.

When Cam felt the first nagging pangs of hunger, he walked over to an inviting pub called the Gnome's Arms. He seated himself at the bar and greeted the proprietor, a cheerful young woman called Sara Scott. She dished up a steaming serving of Beef Wellington for him, and he ordered a pint of Barley Bale to wash it down. A number of interesting people stopped by the pub, and the outgoing Mr. Ross had a good time getting to know some of them.

Cam couldn't stop looking at one young woman...but not for the usual reason why a young man's head is often turned. This young woman, an attractive, curvy blonde, was emitting a soft, pulsating glow!

Sara Scott noticed the way Cameron was checking out the glowing blonde. She motioned for him to lean across the bar so she could whisper in his ear.

"You need to be careful with that one, Cameron," she warned him. "We get aliens in here from time to time. I'm not sure, but I'm thinking she might be one of them."

Cameron gulped and sat up straight. "An alien!!" he gasped. Out loud.

The pub fell silent. Everyone looked at the new lad, who was trying to make himself as small and inconspicuous as possible. The blonde's eyes opened wide. Cameron felt himself blush to his toes. You had to do something stupid, didn't you? he said to himself as he lifted his pint to his lips. It was empty.

A good bartender possesses a sixth sense that enables her to fix even the most awkward of situations. Too much drama isn't good for business. Sara Scott was one of these mixologists. She scowled in mock disgust. "An alien? That's who the killer was?? You HAD to spoil the ending, didn't you???"

A few of the other patrons laughed. Cameron felt the tension level in the pub return to normal. Even the glowing blonde seemed satisfied with this explanation for Cameron's outburst, and began to chat with a woman seated beside her.

Cam caught Sara's eye. He mouthed a silent "Thank you" and smiled. She lifted a glass in response.

After a suitable interval, Cam left the pub and wandered back down the village's main street. Before long, he found himself standing in front of a grocer's stall. Cameron was fairly handy in the kitchen, and he enjoyed using fresh ingredients. After he ordered a few staples from the grocer, he struck up a conversation with her.

Her name was Kim Goldbloom. Cameron liked her immediately. Kim loved to talk about life in her village, and Cameron found himself smiling at her stories. When Kim mentioned that she was feeling burdened by the number of errands she had to run, Cameron sympathized.

"Is there any way I can help" he asked.

"Actually, there is something I'd really like. I hate to ask, though." Kim smiled, and a cute dimple formed in one cheek.

"Ask away," Cam replied.

Kim had been too busy to cook, and she was craving a serving of Aubergine Parmigiana. "You mentioned you liked to cook," the grocer pointed out. "Think you could make that dish?"

"Sure, I'll be happy to."

Kim beamed. "And, if it wouldn't be too much to ask...would you please add a Pumpkin Scone? Just one?"

"You got it."

The next day, Cameron returned to Kim's stall with a fresh serving of Aubergine Parmigiana and a single Pumpkin Scone. In return, Kim gave him several items. But, better than that, Cameron gained a friend.
MoonlightGraham
New Scout
4 years ago
Chapter 5

Cameron didn't really have "weekends" as most people experienced them. Every day seemed to begin in much the same way.
https://i.imgur.com/5M5dgBN.png
Breakfast came first. Cameron often made something fresh for breakfast, but on this snowy Saturday morning, he decided to have a serving of leftover Pasta Primavera. He sat at his counter and enjoyed it, while he listened to the crackling sounds of the cozy fire he built.

Sometimes he enjoyed a run after breakfast, but today, he was in the mood to write. This was a good thing, because he couldn't shake the feeling that he should have been making better progress on his book. He wrote steadily for three hours, pausing only long enough to take a shower, and before the clock struck noon, his book was finished. Cameron smiled and leaned back in his desk chair. He had thought about publishing it himself, but he'd discovered his royalty payments might be higher if he sold the rights to a publisher. He had no immediate need for Simoleons, so while he wasn't yet a skilled enough wordsmith to attract a publisher's interest, he could afford to wait until he could. Besides, he had promised Elsa she could read it first! He wasn't sure when he would see her next, but he had a feeling it would be fairly soon.

It turned out to be very soon.

Cam had thought very little about what he would do that evening. It was the night of the Romance Festival, so he thought he would probably end up making his way into San Myshuno at some point--mainly because he had nothing better to do.

He had been to the Romance Festival once already, and he was frankly unimpressed. The food was decent, but he simply couldn't connect with the vibe. Most of the festival goers were married couples--Geoffrey and Nancy Landgraab, Dominick and Moira Fyres, Rob and Tessa Swanson--who sipped Sakura Tea and flirted with each other. Cam had chatted with the Romance Guru, an older gentleman who informed him that his prospects for love weren't looking too good, and who got flirty with him while he was at it. Cameron had left long before the festival ended.

A few minutes before five P.M., Cameron's plans for the evening changed. His phone buzzed with a message from Sofia, inviting him over to hang out.

When Cameron arrived, all the Bjergsens seemed to be home, except for Clara. Bjorn greeted him warmly, but then he excused himself and headed upstairs to mess around on a computer. Elsa was sitting at the table, doing some homework. Cam decided to let her concentrate on that task before he surprised her with his book.

Besides, that meant he could sit on the couch with Sofia and chat for a bit.
https://i.imgur.com/PMTsAnD.jpg
Their conversations never seemed to grow stale, and Cameron sensed Sofia enjoyed them every bit as much as he did.

It became impossible for Elsa to resist the urge to join in the fun. She put down her homework and hopped onto the couch beside Cameron.

He smiled. "Hi, Elsa. I have something to show you!" The little girl bounced on her seat as Cameron produced the manuscript of One Blue Shoe: A Tale of Lost and Found. "Just like I promised."

Elsa squealed with delight. "OH my GOSH! This is SO WONDERFUL! May I keep it and read it tonight?"

"Of course you may."

"Thank you! THANK YOU!!"

Sofia smiled as she watched the two of them. Her relationship with her sister had not always been wonderful. Even as a toddler, Elsa had shown signs of the whiz kid she would become. Sofia, on the other hand, was an average student at best, too easily distracted by her musical pursuits and socializing. She was every bit as talented a musician as Elsa was a student, and her parents made it clear they loved her, but Sofia couldn't help feeling like she had been upstaged by her little sister.

Still, the sight of her sister and her friend bonding so naturally made her feel something warm and good and comfortably exciting.

Soon the three of them were on their feet, laughing as they danced to the pop music coming from the sound system. Bjorn, who could hear the happy noise coming from downstairs, smiled to himself.
https://i.imgur.com/kFhDxJH.jpg

Clara found the impromptu dance party in full swing when she returned home from her catering job. She joined the fun, making it a party of four until Sofia excused herself to eat a helping of leftover salad.

"Feel free to grab something too, Cameron," Clara offered. He was indeed getting hungry, but he hated to eat the Bjergsens' food. Eventually the gnawing at his stomach became more than he cared to endure, so he compromised by heating up a quick meal in the microwave. Sofia had headed upstairs, so Cameron sat down at the table and visited with Clara while Elsa returned to her schoolwork.
https://i.imgur.com/gXrOaBV.png

A little before 11:00, Cameron caught himself yawning, and bid the Bjergsens good night. He thanked Sofia for her invitation, hugged her warmly, and set off for home.

Later, Clara and Bjorn were relaxing in their bedroom, watching TV, when Clara turned to her husband.

"I thought we'd planned to do the Romance Festival tonight," she pointed out. At first, Bjorn was afraid she was upset, but the mischievous grin on her face told him otherwise.

"We had," he agreed. "But then Sofia asked me if it would be okay for her to invite Cameron to visit tonight. I trust her, but..."

Clara kept smiling. "I know. I was wondering if that's what had happened."

Bjorn nodded, and after a moment, Clara continued.

"I don't think the timing was an accident, either."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it, Bjorn. Where would YOU expect a nice, single guy like Cameron to be tonight?"

The tumblers inside Bjorn's brain clicked into place. "The Romance Festival. Unless he received an invitation to do something else..."

"Precisely! And I have a feeling our daughter decided she would prefer Cameron NOT be drinking Sakura Tea tonight."

"For a moment, I thought you were the mastermind behind this little plan, darling."

Clara shook her head. "Not me. I wondered if you were at least a part of it myself!"

"Nope. This was all Sofia's doing."

Both Bjergsens smiled. Their older daughter was just as clever as their younger one, when she put her mind to something.
MoonlightGraham
New Scout
4 years ago
"Kellogg_J_Kellogg;c-17955910" wrote:
The only single people your Sims are ever going to meet at the Romance Festival are those serving food at the stalls.

@Kellogg_J_Kellogg I am definitely starting to see the truth of your statement. I'd think the Romance Festival would be an ideal place for unattached Sims to hang out...but that has definitely not been the case so far.

"orenjiAi;c-17956142" wrote:
Hey @MoonlightGraham! This is a fun, relaxing, write-up of you and your daughter’s gameplay! That’s so sweet! I barely see slice-of-life SimLit around here; so I’m glad to have chanced upon this one. :smile:

I love Cameron and Sofia’s dynamic! It’s always beautiful to see friendships grow and deepen. It’d be even more wonderful if it could develop into something more! (I see the sparks fly around these two). I’m looking forward to read more. :blush:

@orenjiAi Thanks, orenjiAi! Z and I have a lot of fun with The Sims. Now my wife is starting to take more of an interest, too, so it's become a household pastime now.

I had no idea there was a name for the kind of SimLit I was writing. I'm flattered to have my keyboard scribbles included in an actual genre! :)

I hadn't planned on using this save as the basis for a story. We created it as a way to have fun with some of the houses we found on the Gallery. We figured that if the show had a star, it would be a Sears house, not a Sim. The game had a plan of its own, however, and the connection between Cameron and Sofia became more and more intriguing as we played. That's why there were so few screenshots in the first posts. I hadn't seen a reason to take them until we'd been at it for a while.

As far as "something more," I can honestly say I'm not sure what will happen there. After all, Sofia is still a Teen, too young to share a romance with a Young Adult like Cameron. We have developed a way to change this situation, which I'll explain behind a spoiler tag...

Spoiler
We're playing this game with aging off, so none of the Sims will age up on their own. However, at the beginning of each game day, we roll our d20. If we roll a 20, Sofia will "celebrate a birthday," and we'll age her up to a Young Adult. Then, if sparks keep flying...who knows what might happen?

Thanks again to both of you for your comments. It's fun to see that someone has stopped by! :)
EvilBnuuy
New Rookie
4 years ago
It's not often I find a fully slice-of-life story all that interesting, but this is really fun so far. I like that it's a collab of yours and your daughter's ideas and I like how you can see people's personalities shine through in the dialogue.
orenjiAi15
4 years ago
"MoonlightGraham;c-17956899" wrote:
I hadn't planned on using this save as the basis for a story. We created it as a way to have fun with some of the houses we found on the Gallery. We figured that if the show had a star, it would be a Sears house, not a Sim. The game had a plan of its own, however, and the connection between Cameron and Sofia became more and more intriguing as we played. That's why there were so few screenshots in the first posts. I hadn't seen a reason to take them until we'd been at it for a while.

I can totally relate to your story’s origins. In fact, my latest (and now favorite) save only came to be because I liked a build so much I decided I’d create a sim to live in it too lol!

And I can see now why it’s aptly entitled “Come What May”. :smile: It blows me away how all of this is spontaneously simulated by your game (and also how your creative storytelling stitched them all together). I’m kinda jealous, actually. My game never churns up anything worth sharing. It’s just hours and hours of them watching TV, playing on the computer, and talking to the plants. The neighbors don’t even come to visit! But yours is different. It’s fun! I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for Cameron and the Bjergsens!
Waxintegral
Seasoned Newcomer
4 years ago
What I'm enjoying about your story so far is the whole realistic and down to earth characters. I have read a lot of Simlit with magic, aliens and the paranormal and I like a lot of them: There are some really creative writers who use that to good effect, but it's nice to see something that doesn't involve that.