Outtake:

Outtake: 

Malcolm and Charlotte’s relationship in-game is a lot more romantic than it is in the story so far.  I wanted a hug, not a makeout session, you guys!  Geez! 

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 it is - a really, really, REALLY long replies post for all of the Bluewater posts I’ve done so far.  Thank you so much for all the responses to the story.  I’ve loved seeing them.  Look under the cut for a LOT of replies. 

@holleyberry, @penig, @anotherplumbob Abby is actually pregnant in-game, she wasn’t showing at the time I shot the pictures.  I have custom versions of my pregnancy defaults in too, and giving Abby the fat state + the outfit meant I could have her in the color I wanted.  Malcolm definitely intends to sue for full custody. 

@holleyberry - Other than one wavering moment, I don’t think Malcolm is going to listen to her again.  

@dunne-ias, your suggestions has officially been taken into consideration. 

@katrisims, I’m curious to see where it goes too!  

@penig, @holleyberry, @katrisims, @anotherplumbob, and @youdonelostyourmind - The revelation hit Malcolm pretty hard.  I think he’d probably imagined this scene happening differently with Abby before she showed her true colors.  But, as we saw, he did decide not to move her in.  

@anotherplumbob, @katrisims, @penig - Telling Abby off was a big release for Malcolm, I think.  He finally got everything off his chest.  Abby definitely wasn’t expecting it.  Remember when she mentioned that he doesn’t have the temper to match his eyebrows?  She’d never seen him this mad before, and she was pretty shocked by his reaction. 

I think we are going to see Malcolm building up a few more walls for himself after the whole Abby scandal.  He doesn’t want to be hurt again, and he doesn’t want to be manipulated.  I don’t think he’ll be soured for life, but he’s definitely a lot more cautious about relationships. 

@anotherplumbob - Aww, thanks!  I’m glad you like my version of Malcolm.  I think he does tend to be portrayed as the ruthless businessman.  I think this version of him could become that version - especially after what happened with Abby - but at the moment, he’s not quite there. 

@penig - Fleming is pleased.  He’s very pleased.  He was surprised that Malcolm would choose this, though.  Malcolm had been trying to live up to the old rules of the legacy up to this point, and if Fleming were in his place, he wouldn’t give up three generations of hard work and fortune-building. But the firm has all the money now, so Fleming is quite happy that Malcolm chose this route. It means Fleming doesn’t have to do anything sneaky. 

@dunne-ias - Ha ha ha ha ha!  Patience, my friend.  We will get there.  

@anotherplumbob - Oh, I think she was. ;-) 

@dunne-ias - That’s a big jump.  Marry her after one hug?  

@penig - She would not have minded at all. :)

@anotherplumbob - It’s going to be a change for him for sure.  Of course, in game he has the skills to start at Vice President in the Business career, so he’s probably got a corner office, but in the story he’s in a cubicle.  I think having Charlotte just across the way will be a nice perk, though. ;)

@dunne-ias - Let’s see how dinner goes first. 

@esmeiolanthe - I think the baby mama drama will indeed rear its ugly head some time soon.  

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!  

No problem at all! I don’t mind the spam. I hope you’re enjoying catching up. ☺️

Red’s Diner was the perfect place for a meal with a friend. Malcolm and Charlotte enjoyed their food and even goofed around a little bit.  Malcolm found himself laughing as they teased each other and remembered their elementary days. He didn’t want the night to end.