Clan Douglas Dynasty (Finished)

[Metropolis Man]

As for being the first one finished - well, maybe, but only if I can find a way to deal with Error 12 shutting down my game when I try to save.  It's playing havoc with my story progression because I keep having to redo things.  I'm trying to keep track of how many grapes my Gen 7 nectar maker has used, and it's very hard.

That's a bummer. I hope things improve for you.

[Simstar3]

I think you may be the first one to finish, Shipperke! Good luck! ^.^

[Schipperke]

“Molly has the Baby”

When the contractions started, Molly was home alone.  I didn’t think that was right so I told her to go to the hospital.  I thought she’d take a cab, but she pulled up in front of the hospital on the Beast.



I was quite surprised when Arturo turned up.  I’m not sure if he’s married or not but he has a child with someone else, and I really didn’t think he’d come.  To use Metro’s term, Arturo’s role in this conception was basically to be the high-grade fertilizer - Molly wasn‘t looking for a husband or a lasting commitment.  Well, I  hope he was high-grade.  We’ll wait to see what the baby looks like before deciding on that.



You may recall that this baby is to be named after my schip Martha.  But I also thought it would be nice to have one more male clan member to wear the kilt.  So I decided to leave it to chance.  Molly ate whatever she wanted.  If it was a girl, she’d be Martha.  But it was a boy:



I decided to give him a name similar to Martha and also reminiscent of his father’s name:  M. Arthur.  Which I think will likely get shortened to some kind of a nickname.  M. Arthur’s traits so far are friendly and genius.

[Pam]

Big congrats on the birth of generation 8! 

[Simstar3]

No matter their relationship with the mother, or if they have another kid already, the father always comes to the hospital for the birth of his child.

[Sophie4563]

Congrats on Generation 8 and welcome to the world M. Arthur!

[jessiethedog]

Wow, almost there!

I love this dynasty, in fact all of them, and like most readers will miss them so badly! The next challenge better be just as good!

You've also done a great job of making them all look individual, even with the same tartan! Well done!

[Schipperke]

Thanks for the comments, everyone.  It's hard to believe Gen 8 is already here.  Jessiethedog, you are right that this challenge has certainly spawned a lot of good stories.  I was thinking yesterday evening that when Clan Douglas winds down I'll have a lot more time to catch up on the other stories, which will be great.  Welcome to the forum, jessie, and thanks for reading this story.

[Schipperke]

“Molly Decides”

The Immortals have always taken a great deal of interest in their younger generations.  After all, the survival of the Dynasty depends on everyone doing their share and fulfilling the Dynasty requirements.  So we shouldn’t be too surprised to find them meeting with Molly one afternoon:



Mojo:  I don’t like the way that vampire gnome keeps looking at me.  I’m sure she’s after me.  I thought I heard her calling me Teddy the other day.  



Sleuth [rolling his eyes]:  You always think every female finds you irresistible.
James:  Can we get this meeting on track?  Molly, we’re here to learn your plans for meeting your Dynasty requirements and to offer you our help.  Have you chosen an LTW?
Molly:  Oh, I decided that one when I was still a teenager - Renaissance Sim.
Millie:  Three skills to maximize?  Won’t that be hard?
Christie:  Which skill do you plan to Supermax?
Molly:  Well, I found those two nectar making machines in the basement the other day and decided to have a go.  



Molly continues:  It’s quite fun.  I think I’ll go with nectar making.
Mojo:  Finally!  A nectar maker in the family.
Wimsey:  Christie and I can help by planting and harvesting grapes for you to use.
Christie:  Good thing Rhett brought back those machines and grapes when he went to France long ago.
Mojo:  You’ll want someone to taste the nectar for quality.  I’m your sim!
Sleuth:  What a surprise.  Just don’t get carried away with your tasting.  [Sleuth is referring to Mojo’s fondness for nectar when he was younger.]
James:  Yes, nectar making will work very well as a Supermax skill.  What about a job?



Christie:  You know, what we don’t have in this family is somebody who understands about business and finance.  
James:  Yes, with almost 10 million simoleons in the bank, it would be nice to have someone who can advise us on how best to invest the money.
Wimsey:  As you know, Morimer’s father, Gunther Goth, was a prominent businessman.   So was my grandfather Alto.  I can help Molly get a job in business.  
Molly:  Yes, please.
Millie:  For the other two skills, I know you’ve been working on your charisma and that’s coming along nicely.  But Dynasty [the family’s second band] lost two of its members when Radar and Jerry died.  We could sure use a pianist and a drummer.
Molly:  I’ll start my piano lessons right away.

The meeting ends.

Christie takes M. Arthur upstairs and puts him in the living room where he can enjoy the music.  He is soon joined by a companion.

[Sophie4563]

Whoa, whoa. Radar died? That doesn't sound right, he was just talking about nectarin' it up.

I'm surprised the meeting wasn't held in the creepy, medieval torture chamber/meeting room.

[Simstar3]

Radar died before Millies birth. That was Mojo talking about nectar. Although you did make a mistake, Schip. You said Mojo died.

[Schipperke]

Radar was Mojo's twin brother and he died a few pages back - we had his ghost roaming around for a while.  

Do you find the Founder's Room creepy?  I hadn't thought of it in those terms.  They only meet in the founder's room when they have a new immortal to initiate.  Other times they tend to choose less formal surroundings.

[Schipperke]

Radar died before Millies birth. That was Mojo talking about nectar. Although you did make a mistake, Schip. You said Mojo died.

 

I did, and thank you for pointing that out.  No wonder it's confusing.  I'll correct it forthwith.

[Sophie4563]

Radar died before Millies birth. That was Mojo talking about nectar.

Right, I meant Mojo. I guess twins confuse me in the sims as much as they do in real life.

As for the Founder's Room, it reminds me of a medieval plotting room or the Republican's meeting room from the Simpsons, So yes, I would consider it a little creepy.

[Schipperke]

“Another Birthday, Another Name”

M. Arthur is ready to become a toddler.  James takes the little fellow over to the birthday cake.  As they wait for the rest of the family to gather, I wonder what James is thinking.  Is he making a wish for the future of his clan?   Is he remembering all the other babies of the clan who have grown up?  Or maybe he’s just wondering what flavour the cake is.



The moment of truth:  what colour hair does M. Arthur have?



It’s hard to tell from that picture, but the little guy turned out to have his mother’s hair colour - that strangely unpleasant greenish brown.  I was so disappointed that I broke my own rule about not changing their hair colour until they become elders.  I think he looks a lot better with his father’s blonde hair.



Unfortunately, I didn’t notice that M. Arthur closed his eyes at the moment I snapped that screenshot.  Hey, I never claimed to be a level 10 photographer!  His eyes are actually blue, as you can see in this picture of James teaching him to talk:



Following the lessons, James decides to chat with the little fellow.  “So,” says James, “what’s your name?”  M. Arthur knows his name, but it’s hard for his toddler’s tongue to pronounce.  He struggles and says, “My name is Moth!”  Everyone agrees that Moth is a lot easier to say [and a lot easier for me to type], so henceforth M. Arthur will be known as Moth, except perhaps by his mother.  By one of those strange coincidences, Moth just happens to be one of my schip Martha’s nicknames.  Fancy that.

[ratchie]

Is Moth the first blond in the family?

Rachel

[Joria]

I can't believe you are almost at the end.  This is too sad to comtemplate.  I have loved this zany family right from the first.  Will you continue playing them now that Moth is here?

[Schipperke]

I can't believe you are almost at the end.  This is too sad to comtemplate.  I have loved this zany family right from the first.  Will you continue playing them now that Moth is here?

Oh, thank you, Joria.  You are very kind.  But there is still a lot to do - Moth needs to grow up and complete his Dynasty requirements, and Molly is still working on hers. 

Rachel, Moth is the first blond immortal.  We've had spouses with red hair and blond hair, but I don't seem to have much luck getting them to pass those colours along to the children. 

[Anushka]

After dreaming you playing me, what more can I say! I'm too sad to see the end being so close, but also happy to see it is doable, and that HoF will finally be opened. As you said, there is still some work to be done, so please keep posting about them, I love the way you write. And I'm counting on you continuing the story in form of legacy or something.
And oh my, that nickname is hilarious! Did you put any moth in his room?

[Schipperke]

“Molly is Busy”

Molly is working hard to achieve her goals.  She needs to succeed at work, master three skills that don’t relate to her job, and complete all her other Dynasty requirements.  Her Business career was quite boring in the early stages, but now she’s made it to Department Head and the work is more interesting, even if the hours just got longer.  Her only problem is finding the seamed stockings that are part of her new work outfit.



She sometimes feels as if she is living a double life.  The proper businesswoman during the day, and after hours a vintner (nectarer?), stomping grapes:



She tries to find time to practice her piano as well.



She’s happy to be a member of the family band Dynasty but wonders how it is that Radar is still shown as a band member.  If the band ever gets a gig to play, will Radar’s ghost show up to join in?

Molly wishes she had more time to spend with her young son.



Moth is growing up so quickly.  She had to miss his birthday party because she was at work.



But everyone in the family loves Moth, and Molly knows he is well cared for.  Wimsey was eager to start her ice sculpture of the little fellow.



Molly wonders if her bosses are taking advantage of her, though.  She was happy when her first boss gave her an opportunity to bring relics to work, as it gave her one of her BlackOps.  But when her first boss suddenly died and the new boss gave her the same opportunity, she began to suspect her bosses were merely enriching themselves at her expense.  She has had no opportunities related to her 3 Renaissance Sim skills (nectar making, charisma and piano).  The only skill opportunity she’s been given was to bring excellent plums to the supermarket.  With a little help from the gardeners in the family, she managed to complete that one and add it to her list.

[jessiethedog]

Wow! I got welcomed! I feel so honoured 

“Molly is Busy”

She’s happy to be a member of the family band Dynasty but wonders how it is that Radar is still shown as a band member.  If the band ever gets a gig to play, will Radar’s ghost show up to join in?

That would be so cool! If it does happen, get pictures of it 
Which trait did Moth get? I couldn't see it on any of the pages, but maybe im just going blind...

[Schipperke]

Thanks for reminding me about Moth's new trait, Jessie, I forgot to put it in.  Moth added the Bookworm trait to the traits he already had - Genius and Friendly.

[jessiethedog]

Thanks for that, knowing all the traits make them seem more real somehow

[Schipperke]

“Moth and the Mystery of the Locked Room”

Moth has an enquiring mind.  He spends hours at his blocks table studying how the pieces fit together.



Now that he is a child and able to navigate the stairs, he heads down to the basement to see what he shall see.  He finds himself frustrated when he encounters a locked door.



He asks his mother to unlock the door, but she doesn’t have a key.  He talks to his grandmother and to everyone else in the household, but nobody knows what is in the locked room.  Finally someone tells him that James has the only key.  The minute James comes in from fishing, Moth tackles him.



Moth:  I want to know what’s in the locked room downstairs.  
James:  Do you, now?
Moth:   I live here too!  I think you should tell me.
James:  I think I should tell you too, young Moth.  But not just yet.  The time isn’t right.
Moth:  When will the time be right?
James:  When you’re older.  But (leaning in to speak to Moth confidentially) you’ll be the first one to know.  I’ll tell you before anybody else, how about that?



Moth:  You promise?
James:  I promise.  But you have to be patient until I decide the time is right.  Okay?
Moth isn’t completely satisfied but he knows James isn’t going to budge on this.  Moth agrees to wait.

[ratchie]

Curiouser and curiouser.

Rachel