At The End Of The Season, Malcolm Moved Out Of Landgraab Manor And Into A Small House In Downtown Sim

At the end of the season, Malcolm moved out of Landgraab Manor and into a small house in downtown Sim City.  It wasn’t much, but it was his.  As he sat his tiny kitchen, he felt a wonderful sense of freedom.  He had left everything behind and it felt as though a terrible weight had been lifted from his shoulders. For the first time in over a season, Malcolm felt happy. 

All right!  The Landgraab round is finally finished!    I’m not sure when the next household (Florence Delarosa) will be ready, but I’m trying to get into the habit of playing and queuing things up on weekends.  Thanks for all the replies to the story, and I can’t wait to see where the rest of this round goes, and where Malcolm’s story goes next! 

Check below the cut for a few outtakes and some thoughts on the writing process this time around.

On Abby and Fleming:

Abby is technically pregnant in game, but she isn’t actually showing yet.  Her “baby bump” in the pictures is a combination of the top (which is a custom version of the default pregnancy outfits I have), the fat body shape, and some trick photography.  My favorite is the one below.

That scene with Abby and Fleming was really hard to write, but I like how it turned out.  He’s such a mercenary jerk! 

On Malcolm’s decision to start over:

I was originally going to have Malcolm buy a big empty lot right next to the old Landgraab manor and do some lawn living, but I don’t think that’s what he would do.  Buying a cheap house in the city makes more sense.  He’s going to need a bigger place eventually, though. Maybe he’ll make enough to buy back Landgraab Manor?  We’ll see...

Malcolm’s lawyer, Lily Gates (whose name I keep spelling different ways), was a suggestion for sims to attend Cynthia Kim’s baby shower.  I read her entry on the Sims wiki and decided she could be Malcolm’s lawyer.  I’m not sure she’ll show up again in any important role, but you never know. 

On Malcolm and Charlotte:

They are so cute!  They have three bolts and mutual crush hearts at the moment.  They’re also best friends. I’m excited to explore their relationship some more, and to see what they get up to on community lots as I play other sims. 

I was really hoping that Abby would show up while Malcolm and Charlotte were out together, but I ended up having to summon her to the park to get the pictures.  There wasn’t a confrontation this time around, but Charlotte definitely noticed that Abby is pregnant, so I can almost guarantee some drama next time.  

On Charlotte and Lillian:

I loved making that picture of Lillian snooping through the window.  It just seems like the kind of thing she would do.  I don’t know that she’s dating anyone at the moment, but she’s definitely interested in her sisters’ love lives.  I’m going to try to find a way to get her and the other Worthingtons into the story next round.  (Did anybody notice Frances II and Charlotte in the trial pictures? Mrs. Worthington was there too, just out of frame.  They were all there and saw the official outcome, although not the drama afterwards.) 

Final Thoughts:

This round took forever to write and play.  I had most of it planned out, at least a little bit, for quite a while, but it took time to figure out how to put all my ideas together.  Again, I really appreciate the help I got from you guys with the poll I put out, and all of your replies to the posts. They really did help, and it always makes my day to get an email that someone has replied to a post.  Thank you so much!

I’ll see you soon for Florence Delarosa’s round!  

Also, I see you, @hollywood3015!  Thanks for all the likes!  Also, have I mentioned that I’m flattered you’re using Bluewater Challenge as inspiration for your own challenges?  Because I really am, and I’m enjoying your legacy so far! 

Here’s another kissing outtake, mostly to let you know that there are most posts in the queue.  The Landgraab round is nearly over.  I have...maybe two more scenes to shoot?  I think?  

Anyways, there should be a post a day this week.  I think. Enjoy!

Malcolm’s first day was long, but he felt like he’d been productive by the end of it.  He and Charlotte walked out of the building together at six, chatting about their days. On the front steps of the building, Charlotte stopped and turned to him. 

“I think your good first day deserves something special,” she said. “Do you want to go to dinner?”

Malcolm hesitated.  Charlotte was really nice and really easy to talk to.  It was almost as if they had picked up their childhood friendship where they’d left off. He wanted to spend more time with her, but the thought of going out with her ---- or with anyone-- made his stomach churn. After what had happened with Abby, he was not at all ready to start dating again.

Charlotte must have sensed his discomfort because she added quickly, “Just as friends, of course.  We don’t have to go anywhere fancy, either.  I just thought you might want to celebrate.”

Malcolm flushed, embarrassed that he had even thought she was asking him out.  Of course, she meant just as friends.  “I’d love to celebrate with you, as friends,” he said and gave her his best smile. 

“I’ll call a taxi then,” Charlotte said, smiling back. 

Have a few extras from Florence’s upcoming round.  I’ve added her parents into the mix for a little bit.  This is in a copy of the neighborhood, just like Malcolm’s bachelor challenge was, mostly because the older Delarosas are supposed to live in Riverblossom Hills and I don’t want them running around Bluewater whenever they feel like it.  They need to be here now, though, because Florence needs her mom to take her dress shopping! 

I have 13 posts sitting in drafts and maybe...two more scenes to take pictures of?  Once I get the whole round put together, I’ll queue things up.  

(Side note: I recreated the older Delarosas by mixing Florence and the face templates they appeared to have in their pictures on the wiki.  I think they look pretty good - more like her than the originals, anyways.)