Hey everybody.👋 Welcome to my second story. I'm hard at work on getting things ready for this one. I thought I would go ahead and start the thread and give you an idea what's going on. I'll post occasional updates in here but most will be in the "What Happened In Your Game Today" thread for now. With the cast pretty much done I'm down to working on the hard part, lots. I don't want any of the main cast to be homeless, but Del Sol Valley is sooo tiny. I'm adding San Myshuno and Oasis Springs to DSV to form a sort of Sims SoCal. DSV stands in as a Sims Hollywood and Malibu. San Myshuno is downtown. Oasis Springs is a Palm Springs like resort where the stars will get away for relaxation and such. I'm looking for either a weather mod to make San My like DSV or I will just turn off snow and weather effects and hope that I don't have lots of sims running around dressed for winter.I'm hoping to have the first chapter done and posted by the end of the month. I really hope this story will live up to your expectations.

The first chapter of the story will be ready this week. I have one little thing left to do. I added a big pack of reward traits from Chingyu that should make things...interesting. There are 100 traits in the pack. Most of them are neutral or good traits, but the bad traits sound really bad. Since they are rewards traits, and in this case free, I can pile them on. Some of the really interesting ones...Cold-bloodedEgotisticalImpulsiveHigh-StrungMoodyNeuroticSaltySmugStone-HeartedThat's just a sampler platter. In the immortal words of Bette Davis...https://youtu.be/yKHUGvde7KU

Chapter One: Prologue and Introductions Part 1Del Sol Valley. The Land of Make Believe. Dream Maker. Dream Breaker. It’s been known by more names than these. Del Sol Valley is one of those places in the universe where the line between fantasy and reality is blurred, if it even exists at all for some.https://i.imgur.com/Dyi1iz3.pngIt has a magical quality but not in the thaumaturgical sense like the mythical Magic Realm. Del Sol Valley takes ordinary sims, ordinary objects, adds imagination and creativity and a dash of luck to create its magic. Underneath that magical facade there are ordinary human desires and motivations. Some of them good and honorable. Others, much less so.Rayvn NashThis is my town. You could say it’s in my blood. I was born here but my family moved away while I was still too young to have any idea of what this city was all about. Even though we left so soon, getting back here, finding fame and fortune, was all I could think about. It feels so good to be back.https://i.imgur.com/hq3TEmK.pngSpoiler (Highlight to read) My name is Rayvn. That's not the name my mother gave me. I came into this world as Ava Thomas. I felt like Ava Thomas was a great name but not for an actress. My full name now is Rayvn Thomas Nash. Like every teenager everywhere, eventually we had to read Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' for school. I had barely gotten past the title when I knew I had found my stage name. It really fit me. At the time I was into dressing in all black and I did flirt with the goth scene. Now I love my name because it feels exotic and mysterious. I wanted to thank my mom for sacrificing so much and being so supportive of my acting ambitions so I took her maiden name Nash as part of my stage name. I kept my dad's family name to honor him. He passed away during my sophomore year in high school. It was cancer that took him away from us. He was right beside my mother doing whatever it took to help me reach my dream right up to the very end. I went through my 'When I grow up I want to be a princess and live in a big pink castle with the most handsomest prince ever!' phase. As I got older thoughts and dreams of movie stardom took over. As a teen I was constantly dreaming about becoming an actress. That's nothing new, lots of girls have had that same dream. I took it more seriously though. I took drama and theatre in school, and acting classes outside of school. Those dreams haven’t faded. They still motivate me. That's why I'm back here now. I'm going to have my star here one day. I haven't worked this hard to settle for anything less than superstar status. I will be back here one day to place my star on Starlight Boulevard and I'm not going to let anything stand in my way.https://i.imgur.com/MGScG1X.pngMy mom was once a personal assistant for a few different celebs including Judith Ward, briefly. Mom has always said she enjoyed her work even with Judith. She only left when dad got a promotion and they headed across the country for it. For all of her support and her openness about life in the movie business and Del Sol Valley, I feel like there is so much more she hasn't told me. I'm sure she has her reasons, whatever they may be. Maybe now that I'm here she'll offer up those things I feel like she hasn't told me. Recently, and I think it's just my imagination, but it feels like there's something specific she wants to tell me, but can't. Or won't. I don't know if it's related to 'The Business' or if it's something else entirely. If it's not my imagination I guess I'll find out what it is when she's ready to tell me.Now that I'm settled into my apartment in the Spice Market neighborhood I can get busy becoming the legendary actress I was born to be. Follow me to the top if you dare, but hang on tight. I have a feeling this ride is going to be bumpy. My mom has always cautioned me about 'The Business', how cutthroat and ruthless it can be. "Del Sol Valley and superstardom", she says, "are not for the weak or faint of heart dear." Well neither am I. Are you ready to come along with me? Do you think you can keep up? https://i.imgur.com/Q4DBfIp.png My name is Rayvn. That's not the name my mother gave me. I came into this world as Ava Thomas. I felt like Ava Thomas was a great name but not for an actress. My full name now is Rayvn Thomas Nash. Like every teenager everywhere, eventually we had to read Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' for school. I had barely gotten past the title when I knew I had found my stage name. It really fit me. At the time I was into dressing in all black and I did flirt with the goth scene. Now I love my name because it feels exotic and mysterious. I wanted to thank my mom for sacrificing so much and being so supportive of my acting ambitions so I took her maiden name Nash as part of my stage name. I kept my dad's family name to honor him. He passed away during my sophomore year in high school. It was cancer that took him away from us. He was right beside my mother doing whatever it took to help me reach my dream right up to the very end. I went through my 'When I grow up I want to be a princess and live in a big pink castle with the most handsomest prince ever!' phase. As I got older thoughts and dreams of movie stardom took over. As a teen I was constantly dreaming about becoming an actress. That's nothing new, lots of girls have had that same dream. I took it more seriously though. I took drama and theatre in school, and acting classes outside of school. Those dreams haven’t faded. They still motivate me. That's why I'm back here now. I'm going to have my star here one day. I haven't worked this hard to settle for anything less than superstar status. I will be back here one day to place my star on Starlight Boulevard and I'm not going to let anything stand in my way.https://i.imgur.com/MGScG1X.pngMy mom was once a personal assistant for a few different celebs including Judith Ward, briefly. Mom has always said she enjoyed her work even with Judith. She only left when dad got a promotion and they headed across the country for it. For all of her support and her openness about life in the movie business and Del Sol Valley, I feel like there is so much more she hasn't told me. I'm sure she has her reasons, whatever they may be. Maybe now that I'm here she'll offer up those things I feel like she hasn't told me. Recently, and I think it's just my imagination, but it feels like there's something specific she wants to tell me, but can't. Or won't. I don't know if it's related to 'The Business' or if it's something else entirely. If it's not my imagination I guess I'll find out what it is when she's ready to tell me.Now that I'm settled into my apartment in the Spice Market neighborhood I can get busy becoming the legendary actress I was born to be. Follow me to the top if you dare, but hang on tight. I have a feeling this ride is going to be bumpy. My mom has always cautioned me about 'The Business', how cutthroat and ruthless it can be. "Del Sol Valley and superstardom", she says, "are not for the weak or faint of heart dear." Well neither am I. Are you ready to come along with me? Do you think you can keep up? https://i.imgur.com/Q4DBfIp.pngLady Mimi Eleganza/Mimi EleganzaHello my lovelies! Mwah! Some of you already know me, no doubt. For those who don't I am Lady Mimi Eleganza, Mimi Eleganza when I'm not on stage. I prefer they/them when I'm out of character. Not that I'm ever truly out of character. Lady Mimi is an outrageous, totally uninhibited, version of me with bigger hair and a little bit more makeup. https://i.imgur.com/3v3NeAc.pngSpoiler (Highlight to read)I've been making a name for myself in the drag business for a few years now. Some people have called my rise meteoric. I suppose it is. I like that description. I'm from nearby Oasis Springs but left to start my drag career and my journey of self exploration elsewhere. I could have done all of it here, but I needed some time and space away from my...'family'. They are a prominent name in Oasis Springs though God knows Nancy thinks she's a big deal everywhere. Geoffrey's only claim to any scrap of relevance, if you can call it that, is being married to Nancy Landgraab. I was born Johnny Landgraab and I was briefly known as Johnny Zest. You may have deduced already, my family and I do not get along. Like not at all. Especially Nancy and I. Fire and gasoline have a better relationship than we do. Nancy and Geoffrey can't handle the truth, my truth. I'm twice the lady Nancy will ever be and a bigger man than Geoffrey. Malcolm was never openly hostile like Nancy and Geoffrey, but he never stuck up for me against them or any bullies when we were in school. Anytime I was the victim of a bully whether it was words or fists he just sat there mute or walked away. He literally has not spoken to me, even when I was still living at home, in years. So I figure he's their mini me and they can have each other. I'm still learning so much about myself, about who I am. I know for sure that I'm more comfortable in my own skin now than I have ever been at any point in my life. As sad as it sounds, I am so much better off without them in my life. They will never again be a part of my life until they learn to be loving, supportive, and non-judgmental. I'm not holding my breath or pausing my life to wait for that to happen. Now that I'm ready for the big leagues of drag I'm back home. I live at 1010 Alto in Del Sol Valley. I took over the lease on the penthouse suite from Diego Lobo. Oh my god he's so cute. Sadly he's taken so I remain free to sample life’s buffet of manly goodies. If he should ever become available though...https://i.imgur.com/bsnJ3kA.pngI'm ready for the confrontations that are surely coming with Nancy. She still feels like she can tear me down by verbally attacking me publicly or privately. I know her all too well she won't let this go. One way or another she's going to try something, but I'm ready for her. She came after me in public once before. Back then I was a nervous, awkward 17 year old who snuck out of the house to perform and to simply be me. I lied about my age to get into one of the smaller clubs. I performed there a handful of times before Nancy found out what I was doing. I was in my element but I was still a scared kid in heels, a mini-dress, and a metric ton of makeup who was just learning how to be an entertainer. It didn't take much of a push from her to topple me. That night was my first time wearing 5 inch heels so I was as unsteady and wobbly as a newborn kitten. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I can make jokes about it now. I think it infuriated her that I looked better in a mini dress than she ever did. I was scared too because that night was the first time I was given a prime slot to showcase my talent. I wanted it to be as flawless as I could make it, and then here comes Nancy throwing a tantrum. She's screaming at me and everyone in the place about how they were encouraging a boy to wear a dress and to pretend to be a girl. If nothing else I learned I have a flair for comedy. You should have seen the look on her face when I said "Who's pretending." I was embarrassed that she was making me the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. I was mad too because she interrupted an epic rendition of 'Single Ladies' if I do say so myself. Nancy also made a spectacle of me as she yanked my wig off and forced me to remove my makeup in front of everybody all while still reading them the riot act.She won that round. She informed the club manager that I was underage. He had no choice but to kick me out and bar me from coming back until I was old enough. He didn't like it, but he had no choice. The manager, the other queens, and patrons were all so supportive and lovely to me before Nancy drug me out. That’s why I call you, my fans and supporters, ’My Lovelies'. Because you are and you mean the world to me. She had no clue then about who I am, and she still doesn't. For me the labels boy/girl, male/female are meaningless, I'm neither and I'm a glorious blend of both. All I am is me. https://i.imgur.com/pq8LuDi.pngMy home away from home is The Orchid Club. I perform there nightly, except Mondays and Tuesdays. It is an oasis of love, understanding, and entertainment. The only requirements to get in are embracing the rainbow of humanity in all its infinite shades and varieties, and to be fab-u-lous. To paraphrase a legend, “Why don’t you stop by and see me sometime.”https://i.imgur.com/CU8ZlEl.pngI've been making a name for myself in the drag business for a few years now. Some people have called my rise meteoric. I suppose it is. I like that description. I'm from nearby Oasis Springs but left to start my drag career and my journey of self exploration elsewhere. I could have done all of it here, but I needed some time and space away from my...'family'. They are a prominent name in Oasis Springs though God knows Nancy thinks she's a big deal everywhere. Geoffrey's only claim to any scrap of relevance, if you can call it that, is being married to Nancy Landgraab. I was born Johnny Landgraab and I was briefly known as Johnny Zest. You may have deduced already, my family and I do not get along. Like not at all. Especially Nancy and I. Fire and gasoline have a better relationship than we do. Nancy and Geoffrey can't handle the truth, my truth. I'm twice the lady Nancy will ever be and a bigger man than Geoffrey. Malcolm was never openly hostile like Nancy and Geoffrey, but he never stuck up for me against them or any bullies when we were in school. Anytime I was the victim of a bully whether it was words or fists he just sat there mute or walked away. He literally has not spoken to me, even when I was still living at home, in years. So I figure he's their mini me and they can have each other. I'm still learning so much about myself, about who I am. I know for sure that I'm more comfortable in my own skin now than I have ever been at any point in my life. As sad as it sounds, I am so much better off without them in my life. They will never again be a part of my life until they learn to be loving, supportive, and non-judgmental. I'm not holding my breath or pausing my life to wait for that to happen. Now that I'm ready for the big leagues of drag I'm back home. I live at 1010 Alto in Del Sol Valley. I took over the lease on the penthouse suite from Diego Lobo. Oh my god he's so cute. Sadly he's taken so I remain free to sample life’s buffet of manly goodies. If he should ever become available though...https://i.imgur.com/bsnJ3kA.pngI'm ready for the confrontations that are surely coming with Nancy. She still feels like she can tear me down by verbally attacking me publicly or privately. I know her all too well she won't let this go. One way or another she's going to try something, but I'm ready for her. She came after me in public once before. Back then I was a nervous, awkward 17 year old who snuck out of the house to perform and to simply be me. I lied about my age to get into one of the smaller clubs. I performed there a handful of times before Nancy found out what I was doing. I was in my element but I was still a scared kid in heels, a mini-dress, and a metric ton of makeup who was just learning how to be an entertainer. It didn't take much of a push from her to topple me. That night was my first time wearing 5 inch heels so I was as unsteady and wobbly as a newborn kitten. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I can make jokes about it now. I think it infuriated her that I looked better in a mini dress than she ever did. I was scared too because that night was the first time I was given a prime slot to showcase my talent. I wanted it to be as flawless as I could make it, and then here comes Nancy throwing a tantrum. She's screaming at me and everyone in the place about how they were encouraging a boy to wear a dress and to pretend to be a girl. If nothing else I learned I have a flair for comedy. You should have seen the look on her face when I said "Who's pretending." I was embarrassed that she was making me the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. I was mad too because she interrupted an epic rendition of 'Single Ladies' if I do say so myself. Nancy also made a spectacle of me as she yanked my wig off and forced me to remove my makeup in front of everybody all while still reading them the riot act.She won that round. She informed the club manager that I was underage. He had no choice but to kick me out and bar me from coming back until I was old enough. He didn't like it, but he had no choice. The manager, the other queens, and patrons were all so supportive and lovely to me before Nancy drug me out. That’s why I call you, my fans and supporters, ’My Lovelies'. Because you are and you mean the world to me. She had no clue then about who I am, and she still doesn't. For me the labels boy/girl, male/female are meaningless, I'm neither and I'm a glorious blend of both. All I am is me. https://i.imgur.com/pq8LuDi.pngMy home away from home is The Orchid Club. I perform there nightly, except Mondays and Tuesdays. It is an oasis of love, understanding, and entertainment. The only requirements to get in are embracing the rainbow of humanity in all its infinite shades and varieties, and to be fab-u-lous. To paraphrase a legend, “Why don’t you stop by and see me sometime.”https://i.imgur.com/CU8ZlEl.pngJudith WardI shouldn’t have to introduce myself, after all I am the living legend. I was born a living legend. If there is anything on earth I love almost as much as I love myself, it’s talking about myself. After all, I am Judith Ward. Welcome to the wonderful world of...me! https://i.imgur.com/0b2phCo.pngSpoiler (Highlight to read)Who wouldn't want to be me? I am the greatest actress there has ever been. I find it mildly humorous to see all these little starlets coming here thinking they’re going to be better than me. Somehow they think they can knock me off my perch. I ask you, when have you ever heard anything more preposterous? I applaud their drive to be great and to reach for golden ring. If you don't want to be great why even come here. Just be realistic my dears, you will never be as good as I am nor will you ever occupy my spot at the top in Del Sol Valley. I have that title all to myself. My advice to anyone who wants to be in my movies, don’t even think about walking onto on my movie set if you aren’t ready to be great. If you lack the talent to keep up with me and please me with your performance I will make your life miserable. I refuse to work with no talent hacks. The stories you hear about me are exaggerated. They call me arrogant. I think I'm rather humble for someone who is flawless at every single thing she does. When you are as perfect as I am you should be allowed to show a certain amount of self confidence. They call me unreasonable, rigid and unappeasable. I simply have higher standards of excellence and I will not compromise. Why should I? They talk about how I have this obsession with mirrors. Being this unbelievably gorgeous does make it hard to keep my eyes from drinking in my flawless features. There is a nasty rumor that I've spent more than a million simoleans on botox treatments and other cosmetic procedures to look this good. Nonsense. There have been ridiculous rumors of me being a vampire or that I've made a deal with the devil for my youthful looks. I'm just naturally blessed with perfect age-defying beauty. I wish these rumors would die but they seem to have achieved a sort canonical truth in the minds of the petty and jealous. I have a good idea who's behind them and I'll take care of her when the time is right.https://i.imgur.com/UjVvcZl.pngI'm not above sharing what I know with the right students. They have to show me they have the will to succeed, the talent to be great, and know their place. It's at this point that lesser talents would say, "I will teach you but I won't reveal all my secrets." I don't have to worry, because even if I did teach someone everything I know they would still never be as great as I am. They would be worthy of calling themselves second best perhaps. I would love to stand here and talk about myself all night long, but I have an awards show to attend and the worshipfulness of my fans to bask in.https://i.imgur.com/96odEEx.pngWho wouldn't want to be me? I am the greatest actress there has ever been. I find it mildly humorous to see all these little starlets coming here thinking they’re going to be better than me. Somehow they think they can knock me off my perch. I ask you, when have you ever heard anything more preposterous? I applaud their drive to be great and to reach for golden ring. If you don't want to be great why even come here. Just be realistic my dears, you will never be as good as I am nor will you ever occupy my spot at the top in Del Sol Valley. I have that title all to myself. My advice to anyone who wants to be in my movies, don’t even think about walking onto on my movie set if you aren’t ready to be great. If you lack the talent to keep up with me and please me with your performance I will make your life miserable. I refuse to work with no talent hacks. The stories you hear about me are exaggerated. They call me arrogant. I think I'm rather humble for someone who is flawless at every single thing she does. When you are as perfect as I am you should be allowed to show a certain amount of self confidence. They call me unreasonable, rigid and unappeasable. I simply have higher standards of excellence and I will not compromise. Why should I? They talk about how I have this obsession with mirrors. Being this unbelievably gorgeous does make it hard to keep my eyes from drinking in my flawless features. There is a nasty rumor that I've spent more than a million simoleans on botox treatments and other cosmetic procedures to look this good. Nonsense. There have been ridiculous rumors of me being a vampire or that I've made a deal with the devil for my youthful looks. I'm just naturally blessed with perfect age-defying beauty. I wish these rumors would die but they seem to have achieved a sort canonical truth in the minds of the petty and jealous. I have a good idea who's behind them and I'll take care of her when the time is right.https://i.imgur.com/UjVvcZl.pngI'm not above sharing what I know with the right students. They have to show me they have the will to succeed, the talent to be great, and know their place. It's at this point that lesser talents would say, "I will teach you but I won't reveal all my secrets." I don't have to worry, because even if I did teach someone everything I know they would still never be as great as I am. They would be worthy of calling themselves second best perhaps. I would love to stand here and talk about myself all night long, but I have an awards show to attend and the worshipfulness of my fans to bask in.https://i.imgur.com/96odEEx.pngThe Bailey-Moon'sMy name is Octavia Moon. Those handsome men are my hubby Thorne and my son Orange. Let’s just get it out of the way, “Why did you name your son Orange?” We’re celebrities, we’re required to give our kids weird and embarrassing names. It’s like the law or something. Thorne was eating an orange while we were discussing baby names. We couldn't agree on a name and we were getting bored. Thorne held up the half eaten orange and asked "Why not" as he nodded towards the hand holding it. Done and we met the requirement for giving our child a weird name. We came to Del Sol Valley right after high school. It was a great place for Thorne to work on his DJ and singing aspirations. Back then I wanted to be a novelist. I still enjoy writing but now I’m an actress first. I got involved in some theatre projects and before I knew it I was hooked on acting. We’re raising Orange to be creative and follow that energy wherever it leads him.https://i.imgur.com/QRTHCQT.pngSpoiler (Highlight to read)Our life would be perfect were it not for the nutcase that lives next door.https://i.imgur.com/gReuYhh.pngThat would be Judith Ward. I swear that woman is psychotic. In the five years since we built this place and moved in it’s been one thing after another. We got off on the wrong foot. I was here overseeing some last minute details before we moved in. I was distracted, and frankly the way she was dressed how was I supposed to know it was her. She was wearing this wide brimmed sun hat that was so big it could have shaded three heads. All I could do was assume there was a head under that hat somewhere. It looked like her shoulders were holding the hat up. I asked the hat who it was? That was the wrong question. She goes into a tirade, "How could you not know who I am? I am Judith Ward!" I followed up my first wrong question with another. I asked her how I was supposed to know it was her under there with that hat over her face? By smell? That went over about as well as you think it did. Since I met her I have learned that you can smell crazy...in her case it smells like Chanel Mademoiselle. I swear she pickles herself in that stuff.Oh, there was the time she took us to court. She wanted to see the blueprints for our house so she could see the measurements. She wanted to make sure it wasn't bigger than hers. That was after she came over with her butler and a tape measure. You read that right, the fool was going to measure our entire property. Needless to say I wasn't having any of that and told her she had 3 seconds to get lost or she was going home bald. Thankful the judge denied her request. So she hired an architect to renovate her house to make sure it was bigger than ours. I sometimes wonder what it's like to have more money than brains. I also wonder what color the sky and the grass are in her world because child, that woman isn't living in ours. You've heard that saying about crazy people having bats in their belfry. She ain't got bats, she's got condors...or some other big dang bird up in there. She is N-U-T-S nuts! That's enough talk about her. I'm afraid if I keep talking I might accidentally summon her like some demonic homing beacon.Let's talk about my boys for a second. The overgrown one is riding a wave in his career. Thorne's popularity is going through the roof as are his downloads. His concerts are selling out and he's hoping to start headlining tours soon. He loves to drop in for impromptu sessions at the local nightclubs. The Orchid Club is one of his favorites because the dance floor brings out big crowds most nights and his beats are perfect for the setting.https://i.imgur.com/6EDtLCE.pngOrange, well god love that boy but he's not the best student. He's more interested in video games and learning how to make music with his dad. He definitely takes after his dad with the bad student thing. Thorne was the worst student you ever saw. He was always more interested in music and girls than learning. I broke him of his fixation with chasing every woman in a short skirt. He knows how good he has it with me and he wouldn't be foolish enough to mess that up. He's starting to really rake in the simoleans with his music. As for me, well things are looking up. I'm still working on my acting hoping to land some big roles. I know you're wondering about working with you know who. That's not an issue, she only does movies and I prefer tv. The work in tv is steadier if you can land a juicy recurring role. I have a line on a couple of good ones. I don't want to go into details and jinx things but I feel like a really juicy role is coming for me. Our little family is in a good place right now and things are looking really rosy, all things considered.Our life would be perfect were it not for the nutcase that lives next door.https://i.imgur.com/gReuYhh.pngThat would be Judith Ward. I swear that woman is psychotic. In the five years since we built this place and moved in it’s been one thing after another. We got off on the wrong foot. I was here overseeing some last minute details before we moved in. I was distracted, and frankly the way she was dressed how was I supposed to know it was her. She was wearing this wide brimmed sun hat that was so big it could have shaded three heads. All I could do was assume there was a head under that hat somewhere. It looked like her shoulders were holding the hat up. I asked the hat who it was? That was the wrong question. She goes into a tirade, "How could you not know who I am? I am Judith Ward!" I followed up my first wrong question with another. I asked her how I was supposed to know it was her under there with that hat over her face? By smell? That went over about as well as you think it did. Since I met her I have learned that you can smell crazy...in her case it smells like Chanel Mademoiselle. I swear she pickles herself in that stuff.Oh, there was the time she took us to court. She wanted to see the blueprints for our house so she could see the measurements. She wanted to make sure it wasn't bigger than hers. That was after she came over with her butler and a tape measure. You read that right, the fool was going to measure our entire property. Needless to say I wasn't having any of that and told her she had 3 seconds to get lost or she was going home bald. Thankful the judge denied her request. So she hired an architect to renovate her house to make sure it was bigger than ours. I sometimes wonder what it's like to have more money than brains. I also wonder what color the sky and the grass are in her world because child, that woman isn't living in ours. You've heard that saying about crazy people having bats in their belfry. She ain't got bats, she's got condors...or some other big dang bird up in there. She is N-U-T-S nuts! That's enough talk about her. I'm afraid if I keep talking I might accidentally summon her like some demonic homing beacon.Let's talk about my boys for a second. The overgrown one is riding a wave in his career. Thorne's popularity is going through the roof as are his downloads. His concerts are selling out and he's hoping to start headlining tours soon. He loves to drop in for impromptu sessions at the local nightclubs. The Orchid Club is one of his favorites because the dance floor brings out big crowds most nights and his beats are perfect for the setting.https://i.imgur.com/6EDtLCE.pngOrange, well god love that boy but he's not the best student. He's more interested in video games and learning how to make music with his dad. He definitely takes after his dad with the bad student thing. Thorne was the worst student you ever saw. He was always more interested in music and girls than learning. I broke him of his fixation with chasing every woman in a short skirt. He knows how good he has it with me and he wouldn't be foolish enough to mess that up. He's starting to really rake in the simoleans with his music. As for me, well things are looking up. I'm still working on my acting hoping to land some big roles. I know you're wondering about working with you know who. That's not an issue, she only does movies and I prefer tv. The work in tv is steadier if you can land a juicy recurring role. I have a line on a couple of good ones. I don't want to go into details and jinx things but I feel like a really juicy role is coming for me. Our little family is in a good place right now and things are looking really rosy, all things considered.

What an interesting cast of characters. Can't wait to see what they all get up to.

"simgirl1010;c-18212356" wrote:What an interesting cast of characters. Can't wait to see what they all get up to.Thank you so much. That’s the first half of the cast, but they’re the ones that will be at the center of things in Season One and beyond. Part two is the characters who are going to start out with smaller roles in the story. We’ll have to see how their arcs evolve and whether or not they have bigger roles later. Judith is clearly the lightning rod. When you are as egotistical and crazy as she is that tends to happen.?

Schemes and Dreams | EA Forums

396 Replies

tatselk
3 years ago

@DaniRose2143 Really interested in what you have posted so far!

Also, I think it is pretty cool that you managed to write a different voice for each of the characters.

Can't wait to see how all the drama unfolds!
DaniRose2143
Hero
3 years ago
@tatselk Thank you very much. When I write for a character I try to go inside their head and write the way I hear them speak, within forum boundaries. Some of the characters can be NSFW and I did get myself a time out in my other story because I wasn't careful enough.? This story I really have to be careful.?
DaniRose2143
Hero
3 years ago
The next chapter will be ready to go tomorrow. Unfortunately one of the fun storylines I wanted to do is probably going to have to be shelved or scrapped. I had several paparazzi invasions at one celeb's home. After the last one I came up with a storyline about it. The idea came to me after they left. Now that I have the text written the paparazzi, if they even spawn now, won't enter the lot and they don't act like paparazzi. The sim in question does the pose for paparazzi action and all the pap does is that little giddy fan reaction. I'm at a loss on how to get them to invade the celebs home again and to act like paparazzi not fans. If anybody has any suggestions to at least get the paparazzi to come into the sims home I'm all ears. I could try it after work to see if I can still salvage this storyline.

For now until I can figure this out, I'm going to either post a smaller chapter or see if I can quickly put something else together. It's frustrating that the game suddenly decides to quit doing something just when I need it to keep doing it.?
hellohannah2
3 years ago
@DaniRose2143 that must be so irritating! I've found that a lot of things related to being a celeb in the game are very unpredictable. I have a celeb sim in one of my saves who's been trying to complete a milestone FOREVER to get 3 fans to ask for a selfie with her and it's never happened - not even once! And I hang around the gym all the time posing for pictures & getting the crowd riled up. Oh well. The paps showing up at your house must be rare enough, because I think it's only happened to me once ever, so if I were in your situation I might just bypass the natural order of things and get deco sims that I can pose around the place. I've had to do this a few times - sometimes it just gets tiring waiting for the game to behave.

I found these ones for you! https://www.patreon.com/posts/38245013

I hope this helps! It'd be a shame to have to leave out a part of the story you're proud of because of that
luciusstorm
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@DaniRose2143, that's too bad. It sounds like a theme... you've got great ideas and the game just isn't cooperating. I'm sure you'll find a way to make it work in the end.
DaniRose2143
Hero
3 years ago
@hellohannah2 @luciusstorm Thank you both so much. Those poses should come in handy. It occurred to me after I got to work and cleared my head, all I need to do is create a couple of generic sims and dress them up like paparazzi. Have them join the celeb household so I can control them and then split them off afterwards. There is more to this storyline in future chapters and this would make it even easier to bring that storyline to life. I was so frustrated I couldn’t see there was an even better way to get what I’m after. I promise it will be worth it.??

This one celeb had like three paparazzi home invasions. After the third one the idea hit me. The game must psychic and sadistic and it knew how badly I wanted this so it refused to play along.
luciusstorm
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@DaniRose2143, that sounds like a good plan. It's how I've done most of my Epic Confrontations in my story. I look forward to seeing where this goes.
Haneul33
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@DaniRose2143
Spoiler
I enjoyed the sneak peak! Judith is hilariously petty. I kind of want to wish her good luck in her battle against Brytani, but I'm also curious about all the dirty little secrets of Judith that Brytani knows and wonder what would happen if they got exposed. If they're exposed, though, I hope they will only affect Judith and not damage any innocent people!

I look forward to the paparazzi storyline. I'm glad you got it sorted. :)
DaniRose2143
Hero
3 years ago
@haneul
Spoiler
I'm so happy you enjoyed the appetizer. The main course is going to be absolutely delicious! I feel like Brytani and Judith's relationship became toxic while they worked together during Brytani's short acting career. With Judith being petty and vindictive Brytani learned secrets so she could use them for both protection and revenge if need be. Brytani only thinks she on to Judith's big secret. She's not even close. What she's going to help uncover will drop a bomb on Del Sol Valley.
DaniRose2143
Hero
3 years ago
Chapter One" Everybody Has An Axe To Grind

Monday morning in the hills overlooking Del Sol Valley

”On today's Entertainment Insider we take a look at Friday's announcement from Plumbob Studios about the upcoming film starring the iconic Judith Ward.”
https://i.imgur.com/F5Dm3Y3.png

“The iconic, Judith Ward.” She savored the word 'iconic', extracting every ounce of satisfaction she could from it. “At least one person in the media knows how to address me properly” Judith said from her perch on her plush patio sofa as she peered up at the giant LED tv she had installed. It was another little indulgence she gave herself, secure in the knowledge that the upstart neighbors Octavia Moon and Thorne Bailey didn’t have an 85” LED 4K tv with a top of the line 4K Ultra HD sound system on their patio. They didn’t have a backyard waterfall as big as hers either. They did have a bigger pool, a fact that she would be taking up with the architect who assured her that nobody would have a bigger pool in the hills overlooking Del Sol Valley.

”The latest star making vehicle from Plumbob Studios featuring Judith Ward is set to begin auditions later this week. Hopefuls will be flocking to the Plumbob Studios lot in Del Sol Valley vying for a coveted role alongside Judith Ward. As of now the the studio has not released a title or plot synopsis for the upcoming movie.”

Del Sol Valley is a food chain and Judith Ward is at the top. She achieved that spot by being driven and utterly ruthless. That never stopped the fools, as she thought of all the hopeful young actresses and established, but lesser names, that were constantly trying to take her spot. It was time to start preparing for yet another reminder to the world of her greatness. You can pick her apart over her legions of flaws, but being lazy and unprepared for a role are not among them. As she basked in thoughts of herself she failed to listen closely to the talking heads on tv. She was abruptly snatched out of her reverie when they began talking about the next story.

”In other news Brytani Cho is preparing to kick off her latest tour with shows this weekend right here in Del Sol Valley. She will be appearing on Friday and Saturday night at the Bongo Kongo Club.”

“HER!!! Stop talking about that no talent simtch!!”
https://i.imgur.com/tuWbtf0.png?1

Spoiler
Judith Ward has a legendary temper and she keeps it on a very short leash. After hearing her bitter rival's name her temper slipped off that leash. She found the nearest, and cheapest object on which to vent her rage.

“I hate that infernal woman!! I hate her, I hate her, I hate her!!
https://i.imgur.com/tzzoaEb.png

The Pinnacles have an acoustic property that allows sound to really travel. Judith’s lung capacity and temper help too. As Judith raged on, and her poor trash can found itself on the wrong end of yet another tantrum, echos of 'I hate her' drifted down towards the valley below.

“Entertainment Insider must be talking about Brytani Cho again.”
https://i.imgur.com/K4AYBP2.png

It’s true that Judith Ward has her kryptonite and it is Brytani Cho. To say that Judith did not enjoy her brief working encounters with her would be an understatement. If Brytani Cho were on fire Judith would grab the nearest gas can to douse the flames. Since Brytani went back to her stand up comedy career she makes it a point to tell stories about Judith that the crowds eat up. The funny stories and jokes about Judy aren’t all that Brytani has on her. Judith has a lot of dirty secrets and Brytani has a few juicy receipts. The source of some of those secrets come from Judith’s well known and numerous romances. There was also the time Judith abruptly disappeared from the public eye for a few months. Whispers had all sorts of explanations, juice addiction, nervous breakdown, among others. Brytani is pretty sure she knows the real reason but she only has circumstantial evidence at best to back it up. She occasionally does a bit of internet sleuthing hoping to someday have a really juicy secret to use against the 'Queen of Mean." The secret once she can prove it is her ‘Sword of Damocles’ she can dangle over Judith’s head.

Meanwhile, in Oasis Springs...

The day ahead promised to be hot but not oppressive in the high desert north of Del Sol Valley. Oasis Springs is the home base of 'The Business', Nancy Landgraab's financial enterprise of dubious legality. It's where her family has called home for the last three generations. The sleepy desert suburb is the perfect hiding place and it's still close enough to Del Sol Valley so that the last two generations of Landgraab's could still be hands on managing their empire and yet stay secluded. Nancy's quiet morning was about to be interrupted as her son Malcom pulled into the drive of his home across the street from their's. He parked his Audi in the garage and headed over to see Nancy.

“Mom, we need to talk. I thought you’d want to know. He’s back in town.” Malcolm said.

After greeting Nancy at the door with his news, Malcolm pushed past her and made his way over to the sofa without another word. Kept waiting for the answer Nancy’s impatience boiled over. “He who? Jimmy Hoffa? Elvis? Don’t just barge in here and give me riddles, tell me!” She said with an edge to her voice, taking a seat next to him on the sofa.
https://i.imgur.com/aYeuMyn.png

Spoiler
“Oh! Johnny.”

“Ohh rrreally? What brings the little freak back?”
https://i.imgur.com/7bG1VlU.png

“I guess he’s headlining at that new gay bar, The Orchid Club.”

“Don’t tell me, he’s still doing that stupid Lady Mimi act?”

“He is. There are ads all over the entertainment district with that hideous face all over it. I can't believe he doesn't realize how stupid he looks when he dresses like that. He's not the only one either, they have a whole gaggle of sissies in dresses not just him. This guy who bought the club ruined it. Completely ruined it."
https://i.imgur.com/7iTrpvV.png

“I swear your brother loves doing this to embarrass and torment me. I will give him this, he has the Landgraab determination. I don't know why I still believed this was a phase. He spent his entire childhood trying to convince everybody he was a girl. He never gave up so why did I think he'd change after he left home."

“I know. I did my part. I spent a lot of money paying kids to beat the snot of out him in school. You know, beat some sense into him, make a man out of him. That was obviously money wasted. It was satisfying to see him getting beat up though" Malcolm said as he made his way over to the sofa. Nancy joined him as she tried to sort out this little nugget of bad news Malcolm dropped in her lap. "What a way to start your day, eh Nance?" she thought to herself.
https://i.imgur.com/5ueNkfx.png

“He’s an adult and can do as he likes, but he’s trashing the Landgraab name and he's doing right here at home" Nancy said as she massaged her temples. "It's like he's rubbing my nose in it. Is he living here or is he just in town for a while and he's going to move on again?”

“He's apparently back to stay. I forgot to tell you the 'good' part" Malcolm said with a smirk. "It's taken me a couple of days to track down where he's living because he's not going by Johnny Landgraab anymore" Malcolm said shaking his head. "He's calling himself Mimi Eleganza now."
https://i.imgur.com/rrQPmRw.png

"He's what?" Nancy had turned away from Malcolm while she attempted to get a grip on herself. With that bombshell dropped, her head swiveled so fast to look at Malcolm it should have separated from her shoulders. "You have to be joking? You aren't joking are you? My oldest son, my first born son, is calling himself Mimi?" Nancy said, disbelief turning to anger.
https://i.imgur.com/1Rngs4A.png

"I did some snooping before I came to talk to you. I got a hit on the name Mimi Eleganza. When I couldn't find 'Johnny Landgraab' or ‘Johnny Zest’ I started getting frustrated so eventually I tried his stage name without the Lady. Boom. Apparently he bought a penthouse in The Alto Apartments, 1010 to be exact. We could go in there and whack him!”

“No! You are not going to kill him. I knew it was mistake to let you watch all those gangster shows. You do NOT run around killing people all over the place. Dead bodies draw attention from the media and the cops. The movies would have you believe it sends a message. Sometimes it does, most of the time it doesn't. As much as I hate him he is not worth the attention killing him could draw. Risk versus reward Malcolm, remember that.”
https://i.imgur.com/O3C4HSh.png

“But we’ve bought a lot of cops” Malcolm said. “They could help us cover it up. They should do it for us and cover it up for the money we pay them.”

“When you start killing people those cops we bought always come around and want even more money to stay quiet. They know they have you over a barrel and you're going to cough up the money or go to prison. Death row possibly. If enough bodies pile up people start screaming at them to put a stop to all the killings. That’s what your grandfather didn’t understand. Most times it’s better to let them live and ruin them instead. If they keep making trouble then you start considering stronger measures if they don’t take the hint.”

“It makes sense, I suppose” he said

“There's no supposing about it Malcolm. We aren't living in the movies. We are going to confront him. I’ve had it with this nonsense. I’m disowning him, and he's going to know exactly what I think of him and this depraved lifestyle of his. Once and for all." Nancy said. "I would love to corner him where he feels safest, but that apartment building is a fortress. We've had to go after people who lived there before. People who...displeased us greatly and caused us serious inconvenience. We had to find other places to have a...conversation with them, about our level of unhappiness with the current state of affairs between us and them."
https://i.imgur.com/gXnyB9T.png

"Surely we can get in? No place is impenetrable."

"What did I just say about risk? We would risk the police learning our more sophisticated techniques for breaking in and he's not valuable enough to risk revealing those. No we find the next best place, number two on list of safe places and we ambush him there. That would be that Orchid Club you mentioned. That might actually be the better place anyway. If we do it there we make his humiliation public and we serve notice to the world that he's no longer a Landgraab. I want you to case it and see what their security is like." Nancy ordered. "I want to know if we can go handle things by ourselves or do we need to bring some muscle."

“It’s not like we’re going into a biker bar. What’s the worst they’re going to do to us, hit us with their high heels? Eww, take that you bad man!" Malcolm said in mocking fashion. "You really don’t expect me to visit a gay bar?”

“God, you are your father's son sometimes. Case it from the outside, you fool!" Nancy said with an eye roll and an even more exasperated sigh than before.
https://i.imgur.com/3SOnJn8.png

"Better yet, get somebody you trust to do it. Bribe someone to get you photos, or blackmail them. There are times I swear I should have named you Geoffrey Jr. You definitely have his brains not mine. Now get on it, I want this done asap.”
https://i.imgur.com/lenWBxT.png

Back in Del Sol Valley, the next celebrity scandal was unfolding...

After a long day of script reading, Octavia was in the mood for a little dip in the pool. With Orange off visiting her parents she felt it would be fun if she took this dip in the pool au naturel. A surprise was waiting as she opened the patio door.
https://i.imgur.com/BMu1h4s.png

Spoiler
"THORNE! What are these people doing in our house?!" Octavia said, her anger rapidly rising towards full boil when she emerged onto the patio only to find paparazzi. "I told you repeatedly, outside the gate if you gonna pose for pictures you thickheaded fool! I was gonna come out and skinny dip in the pool. Thank God I decided to keep my bikini on until I got in the dang pool."

"But my fans..."
https://i.imgur.com/dkPnT0D.png

"Let me tell you what you can do with them buts and fans." Octavia said, and then she turned both verbal barrels on the paps.
https://i.imgur.com/dUGovXv.png

"And you can get the plumbob outta my house and get on the street where you belong simtch! You done messed up comin' up in here. You got three seconds to get yo feet movin' and they better not stop movin' 'til you on the street. You still here when I get 't three I'm snatching wigs. One. Two…"
https://i.imgur.com/TzjmMga.png

Once the two paparazzi, Madison and Darrin, were off the property they began putting together their version of events. They were going to make sure they made Octavia the bad guy here. Madison turned to Darrin and asked, “Tell me you got pictures of her getting in my face?”

“I certainly did!”
https://i.imgur.com/8dWp7yi.png

“Good! It doesn't matter if she wants us in there or not. Thorne invited us. She harassed us and threatened us and we are going to make it all public. We can even throw in the part about how she was planning to go skinny dipping. Only we say she's the leader of a nudist cult."
https://i.imgur.com/MlFNR3t.png

"I got pictures of her ripping into Thorne too. We can say they're having marital strife or something. Throw us out will she. We'll see about that."
https://i.imgur.com/sc1VFZ2.png

As day became night, at a lively club in the Entertainment District...

"Good evening my lovelies! Mwah! Welcome to The Orchid Club! The gayest place in Del Sol Valley! If you've watched RuPaul's Drag Race you will no doubt know who I am. If you haven't I can only assume your tv is broken or its been stolen. I am your hostess, Lady Mimi Eleganza."
https://i.imgur.com/vjFvfzN.png

Spoiler
"Let's get this party started my lovelies! First I want to introduce you to two really beautiful queens! Get up here girls! You all are going to die when you hear this one" Mimi said as she gestured to Sheniqua. "This girl to my left is Sheniqua Love. I don't need to tell you to remember her name. By the time she's done you won't forget it. This queen doesn't lip sync her songs, what you're about to hear is all Sheniqua."
https://i.imgur.com/HaJDcHH.png

"This queen", Mimi said as she turned to Malaika, "needs no introduction. If you know anything about drag in Del Sol Valley you know who she is and what a legend she is. Give it up for The Queen Mother, Malaika. Sheniqua and I, along with so many queens around the world owe her everything. She taught us everything she knows. Alright ladies, what do you have in store for us?"
https://i.imgur.com/uff2ic9.png

"Thank you for that wonderful intro. I hope I can live up to it. We are going to do Beyonce's 'Break My Soul'" Sheniqua said.

"I love that song! Oooo girl you're gonna slay it! With that the mic is all yours."

?
You won't break my soul
You won't break my soul
You won't break my soul
You won't break my soul
I'm tellin' everybody (ohh, let's go, let's go)
Everybody (ohh, let's go, let's go)
Everybody
Everybody

Now, I just fell in love
And I just quit my job
I'm gonna find new drive
D***, they work me so d*** hard
Work by nine, then off past five
And they work my nerves
That's why I cannot sleep at night

I'm lookin' for motivation
I'm lookin' for a new foundation, yeah
And I'm on that new vibration
I'm buildin' my own foundation, yeah
Hold up, oh, baby, baby
You won't break my soul (na, na)
You won't break my soul (no-no, na, na)
You won't break my soul (no-no, na, na)
You won't break my soul (na, na)
I'm tellin' everybody, na, na
Everybody
Everybody
Everybody?

https://i.imgur.com/1CEjLi3.png

?If you don't seek it, you won't see it
That we all know (can't break my soul)
If you don't think it, you won't be it
That love ain't yours (can't break my soul)
Tryna fake it never makes it
That we all know (can't break my soul)
You can have the stress and not take less
I'll justify love
We go 'round in circles, 'round in circles
Searchin' for love ('round in circles)
We go up and down, lost and found ('round in circles)
Searchin' for love (yeah, yeah)
Looking for something that lives inside me
Looking for something that lives inside me
You won't break my soul
You won't break my soul
You won't break my soul
You won't break my soul
I'm tellin' everybody (let's go, let's go, let's go)
Tellin' everybody
Everybody (ohh, let's go, let's go, let's go)
Everybody?

https://i.imgur.com/l9q7mGx.png

Outside...

https://i.imgur.com/NsPIMTc.png

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