Evergreen Harbor: Update 1
(aka the reason why I have the strongest migraine ever)
After an entire day spent struggling to figure out what I wanted from cas and build mode, here are the Greenes. I had a particular idea in mind, especially for Iris, but I was not able to achieve it. I'm not at all satisfied with the end result, but I adore these two sims as they are, so the makeover has little importance to me. It just was a huge waste of time. It also took me a long time to learn how to crop/edit/layer an outfit showcase like you all did for your posts, so bear with me if it's not perfect, it was my first time trying it out :sweat_smile: this are the five everyday outfits for both Iris and Aiyden, but I didn't include all the other categories because I didn't feel confident in my skills + it was becoming super time-consuming.
Aiyden's-
https://i.imgur.com/MG3tzX1.png
-and Iris'
https://i.imgur.com/2FwMu4D.png
Now, here comes the pain. I went for Plan A, and even tho I struggled way less than I did in cas, the roofing was the worst. It took me way too many hours and I'm still not certain about it :sweat_smile: ... but hey, at least I learned that I struggle more when I have to copy floorplans than when I'm free to build as I please, with no restrictions. I like it, I just have to get used to it.
https://i.imgur.com/VmpSEb2.png
https://i.imgur.com/fH2hwvd.png
https://i.imgur.com/6MQhJup.png
I tried to stick to the plan as much as possible, but it's not an exact copy.
https://i.imgur.com/bLk9zat.png
https://i.imgur.com/atUD8ud.png
I also didn't know what I wanted to do with the house, whether I was going for a strict rags-to-riches gameplay or maybe something different. I ended up filling it with "move-in" decor which I'm slowly going to eliminate as the Greene fix the place. I'm also going to remove any money it gives from selling it away, so that I don't cheat any simoleon. Here are a few of the "drag in whatever they can truly afford" rooms:
https://i.imgur.com/rjAjMNj.png
https://i.imgur.com/KHnuNyK.png
https://i.imgur.com/9ACeGQn.png
https://i.imgur.com/iNPWJsx.png
But here comes the REAL pain and the reason of my inner rage. As soon as I pressed play, the smog rolled in like a storm.
https://i.imgur.com/MR2LJPM.png
I was SO happy to finally see it! I hate it in real life, but it's so nice to have it in the game to change things up a little.
https://i.imgur.com/xGmKP27.png
3 seconds later, when I jumped back to the Greene waiting for me right in front of their new house, BAM: clear sky. Bright blue. Not even a cloud in sight :bawling:
https://i.imgur.com/AWk1QjF.png
It happened so fast that it was literally just a blick on an eye. For a second, I thought that the game glitched out. But then, as the minutes passed, after closing and re-opening the game a few times, I realized that there was nothing I could do.
Aiyden was just as pissed as me and probably realized that something wasn't right.
A: "Is it just me or... a few seconds ago there was like, a sea of smog just above our heads? Am I hallucinating?"
https://i.imgur.com/xxWKBt8.png
Iris took it way better.
I: "We came here prepared for the worst, but it's much better this way! We can grab our things instead of unpacking and move somewhere else, since this town doesn't need any real fixing! Like... somewhere with a nice beach and swimmable oceans?"
https://i.imgur.com/qV6sFKb.png
Aiyden almost caved to his wifey request. I can't really blame him. Their arrival in town was such a huge letdown.
https://i.imgur.com/Gp3xpHh.png
They still went inside for a little snack and to figure out the next plan. Here's a pic of the clutter I mentioned before. It'll all go away, I promise :joy:
https://i.imgur.com/ytAFYmG.png
*the face of a sim that doesn't want to unbox and clean up the mess* :joy:
https://i.imgur.com/hPJXvz9.png
*the face of a sim that can't wait to move out of town not even 5.0 seconds after getting the house's keys*
https://i.imgur.com/1axBjmu.png
After a little bit of brainstorming on this unexpected issue (glitch? bug? just the eco footprint not doing what I wanted?), Aiyden and Iris decided to reach the port and see with their own eyes how the town was doing. As soon as they arrived, they found it littered with trash. Sure, the bright blue sky didn't have 1% of smog, but the place still looked like it needed a lot of help.
A: "See, babe? Trash! Trash everywhere! The CEU was right to call us! We need to fix this place!"
I: "Aiyden, quit trying, I'm not going to get hyped for one overflowing trashcan."
https://i.imgur.com/zNSmc8H.png
But a few hours on the lot passed by and it became clear that Port Promise was in much worse condition than it appeared. The neighborhood had become a huge dumping ground for its citizens, who seemed to be, of course, the real source of the problem.
https://i.imgur.com/enW2BE6.png
Aiyden examined the whole place up and down, attempted to recycle some stuff and tried to figure out what was the reason behind the smog's disappearance.
https://i.imgur.com/KZIvfCQ.png
Especially when the townies kept on burning their trash like that in the open.
NO(YES) I'M NO TRYING TO GET THE SMOG BACK(OF COURSE I AM) why would you even think that???
https://i.imgur.com/w5eBc72.png
The townies had become one with the trash to the point of woohooing in it. The Greenes had to do something.
https://i.imgur.com/uIgcynl.png
But for as much as Aiyden fell down the where's-my-smog-at rabbit hole, Iris grew colder and indifferent towards the city. Besides the trash problem, the whole environment seemed too clean for her to worry. The place only needed some cleaning, there was no need for fixing it. Also, the place lacked collectibles in a way she hadn't forseen.
https://i.imgur.com/rD27NSs.png
... not to mention toilets. There was no public toilet anywhere in sight.
https://i.imgur.com/rIpbG8T.png
Aiyden's smile managed to cheer her up a little and it probably gave her hope that they could move out asap.
https://i.imgur.com/Vu3P6dm.png
Back at home, contrary to her belief, Aiyden stood his ground on the matter. He had been tense and weary of the too good to be true environment for the entire day, so he had no plan on relocating any time soon, not before he had made sure that the place was doing just fine. The CEU must have needed their expertise for a reason.
Dinner didn't go well for these newlyweds.
https://i.imgur.com/M6ZZ07q.png
... nor did the time to get to bed.
They've been arguing about Aiyden's smog paranoia all evening, so by the time Iris had put on her pajama, she had had enough.
https://i.imgur.com/gEssjbU.png
A: "Babe, please, tell me you're not going to make me sleep on the couch over freaking smog..."
https://i.imgur.com/4jExRCI.png
I: "You've been paranoid for the entire day. Why can't you understand that the CEU might have overestimated the environmental damage? There are places out there that might really need our help. We can't be tied down to Evergreen Harbor if the only thing needed here is a good recycling plan. Anyone could do it, even my grandma."
https://i.imgur.com/MVaow2f.png
A: "I'm too tired for this. Scoot over before I crash on the floor, we'll discuss it in the morning."
https://i.imgur.com/BIcu1yZ.png
Iris didn't need to utter a word. She only looked at him.
https://i.imgur.com/Zqth7GK.png
A: "Fine, I got it. You don't have to say it, I'll sleep on the couch."
I: "Wait! You can't just decided that you're going to sleep on the couch! It's our first night in this house!"
( :joy: newlyweds? :joy: )
https://i.imgur.com/1lcuY3x.png
It was way too late for Aiyden to care about what she had to say.
https://i.imgur.com/o9K2DtY.png
https://i.imgur.com/mvNbjHJ.png
And Iris was just too mad at him to sleep peacefully.
https://i.imgur.com/4juGJzY.png
(--- so: how do I even get my smog back? :joy: )
