The Expresso

The Expresso is a beautiful home located on the outskirts of Plum City. It's bound to make any sim feel at home with its cozy mid-century feel.

Banks Household

Traits: Heavy Sleeper, Dramatic, Disciplined,
Workaholic, Perfectionist
Favorites: Classical, Key Lime Pie, Lime

Stories:
Introduction - Round 1
The Date - Round 1

House:
The Expresso - click to tour

Dillard Household

Traits: Workaholic, Lucky, Loner,
Genius, Great Kisser
Favorites: Egyptian, O Positive, Grey

Stories:
Dillard - Round 1

House:
The Kiope Shed - click for tour

Kiope Shed

The Kiope shed is a lonely little shack in the heart of Cypress Hills. Many say it was cursed, due to a fatal accident involving a meteor shower. Plans are currently being made by the city to renovate the shed, but Edward Dillard refuses to relocate or redecorate.

Dillard - Round 1

As usual, Edward came home every night from the hospital to tend to his plants and work on his skill of the day. Things at the hospital were going well, and he knew for absolute certain that a promotion would be in the near future. His only question was, what would he do after he achieves yet another lifetime goal?

Edward ventured into his shack to practice his people skills. He has been told previously that he lacks social skills, but he didn't see the point in exchanging pleasantries with mortals. He didn't feel superior, but he knew that it was a waste of time.

He geared up his electrical impulse ray to see if he could manipulate the mechanics of his shower, but the thing was so cheap that the experiment backfired. He had to undo and redo the experiment at least two times before it finally worked.

And when he wasn't working on skills for his job, he was working on skills for his leisure. Recently Edward has taken a liking to sculpting over writing and chess, but his enthusiasm may yet again shift to something else.

Edward was on call that Friday night and noticed a pretty girl who was interviewing the Chief Surgeon General. Coincidentally, that also happened to be on the night he decided he wanted to taste real plasma.

Just another day in the life of a vampire, I guess.

Dillardus Vampirism

Cheezy's Note: This isn't really an "update" per se, but an autobiography/scientific journal "created" by Edward Dillard. I thought it'd be a fun introduction into the..."unique" mind of a sickly genius. :)

II. Introduction.

If I were to follow the rules of traditional literature, I would start this journal by telling you who I am. And in response to this question of self-identity, I would respond in uncertainty. My name is Edward Dillard, son of Julia and Hans Frontelmau. I am the descendant of the large, mysterious Fillope clan. I took my great grandmother's last name in dedication to my work, as she was the first one infected with whatever virus or gene mutation this is. I've been intensely curious about science from a very young age, and I was very keen on noticing differences. Why is it that some people glow, and others do not? Why does my mother sunburn so easily although I do not?

I would delve more into my inner musings, but they have little to do with the purpose of this journal. My aunt felt that my childhood hobby could possibly lead to a major scientific discovery and insisted I keep track of my findings on paper. I found it redundant as she was doing the same work in the medical field, and she happened to be documenting the findings herself. She insisted that she would die before she found the answer, and that her findings may die with her. I love my aunt, so I'm honoring her wishes.

1. The Ghost Effect

My first finding occurred today. Apparently if you mix two certain reactors together, you develop the "ghost effect". You can throw this potion onto the ground and take on the appearance of a ghost for three hours. One day I will have to test this in a graveyard and observe the reactions of the ghosts.

Tomorrow I will turn eighteen, and I have convinced my parents to let me move into the Kiope shed immediately. Sims have complained of it being haunted or cursed since Harry Montepa died, but I know that's just forklore. My aunt grew up in this shed, and she inspires me to do my best. Being in the shed will remind me of her even when she's gone.

2. The Kiope Shed

Today I moved into the Kiope shed with my uncle Donta. He isn't much older than me, but our side of the family tends to live for so long that we reproduce more. If nothing is done, soon we will have many Dillardus...something-or-others running around. No one will be able to reproduce without incest occurring.

My uncle saw what a skilled gardener I was and gave me the fruit of a plasma plant. I found it odd that such a thing existed, but apparently our family has survived on it for millenniums. I discovered that the complexities of the seed inside of the fruit was beyond my current realm of understanding, so I kept it with me for closer examination.

As the sun came up, something alarming happened. My skin began to burn with a passion, and little flecks of fire would occasionally bounce off of me. I was being burned alive by the sun. I found it so peculiar that I whipped out my notebook without much thought and began documenting the symptoms. Why would my body react this way?

3. Young Again

I think I'm onto something with my potion discoveries. I created a mixture that will make sims young again, but I'm not exactly certain of the extent. I will give the potion to my beloved aunt, who encouraged me to tread on this difficult path. She deserves some more time with her husband.

I visited my aunt in the early morning in hopes of avoiding the sun. I noticed a rainbow forming in the distance, and began to curse whatever it is that was keeping me out of the sun. I loved the world and its beauty as a teen, and now I was being forced to avoid it.

My aunt was delighted to hear about my progress, and offered to test one of my potions. I didn't tell her what it was in fear of her rejecting.

She said she felt a little strange, and almost...perfect. I began to wonder what "perfect" felt like, and noticed that her posture changed. She was standing upright, without a pain in her body. Her hair began changing colors and gaining volume.

She was Young Again! The potion was a success. She gently reminded me that I couldn't play Creator, and if it was her time to go, it was her rightful time. She explained the value of life and mortality, and what she learned the day she witnessed one of her friends get hit by a meteor. "Without death, who can appreciate life? What value is life if we never die? Immortality is not the answer," she said to me.

I would be lying if I said I listened intently. All I could focus on was her beauty. I wanted so badly to kiss her. I knew she was my aunt, but she was unrelated to me by marriage and closer to me age than my uncle in age. It wouldn't be so wrong, right? I decided against risking my valuable friendship with her and simply walked away. She was to be a mentor to me and nothing more.

4. Mood Enhancer

Today I figured out the formula for a Mood Enhancer. Not sure what I was expecting but it didn't do very much. It brightened my day, but not much else.

5. Graveyard Shift

I spent the night at a graveyard, masquerading as a ghost. The ghosts didn't treat me any differently, and I was not afraid of them. I thought maybe exploring the catacombs as a ghost would be much safer than it would for an "ordinary" sim. I was very, very wrong.

After being mauled by a zombie bear and finding some uncommon beetles, I came home to find that a burglar had stolen my chemistry table...even after I purchased a burglar alarm! Maybe this house is cursed after all.

6. A Momentous Occasion

My aunt stopped by a few hours before work. I tried to make it seem like no big deal, but it was. She looked lovely and elegant, and I had no clue she would look so magnificent. I controlled myself out of respect for my uncle and cousins but most importantly, out of respect for her.

After being promoted on my first day, I traveled to the Monte Education Center to study some more on household repairs. It's basic enough, but it would be wise to master the subject before electrocuting myself. When I returned home, I threw myself into my work on potions and learned all I needed to know for the possible vampirism cure! I studied more on vampirism on my uncle's laptop, and I found that it's actually quite popular in many worlds, and they all have cures for the affliction. Unfortunately, the widespread cure is patented so I am unable to see or duplicate their formula. I must make my own.

Therefore, I am lending this strain of gene mutation my last name. The cure will be titled "Dillardius Vampirocillin". If I am successful in developing this cure, it could open so many doors for us!

7. A Series of Events

Today was my third day of work, on which they gave me my third promotion. They obviously saw how far I had come in my research, so they started funding some of it and allowing me to use their formal equipment. I was so excited that the first thing I wanted to do was tell my aunt Daniella.

I took her to the land my grandma owns, without any regard for the heat of the sun. I just needed to hear her tell me how proud she was. She also told me that my uncle Davon took her here as a teenager, but that really just made me sick to my stomach.

She said she was concerned about that shack and how safe I would be there, so she offered to move me in. I told her 'no'. I couldn't just abandon Donta there, and I knew for certain it was safe. In fact, if anything, it's a lucky shack. It killed Harry, but not Daniella. Daniella is an Infectious Disease Researcher, and who the hell knows what Harry would have been?! Probably just another drill lunkhead. Meteors make no mistakes.

To prove the luck of the "unlucky" Kiope shed, a unicorn appeared when Daniella visited. He chose me as his master, and blessed me with "the fauna". I began to wonder if my aunt was truly as ordinary as she claims.

8. Top Secret

As a Top Secret Researcher, I am unable to disclose my experiments in this journal. After my time serving the government has passed, I will continue to share my progress with Dillardus Vampirism.

I have not had contact with Daniella in days. My father just died, and I inherited a small fortune. My mother gave birth to his child shortly before he passed. So far, I am coping well.

Jarett Kiope has found a cure for a few illnesses that have been plaguing our elderly, thus prolonging life. I am proud of him, but I would be a liar if I said I wasn't jealous. Donta agrees with my sentiments. I'm sure Daniella is pleased in her brother. This medical discovery only increases the need for a vamprocillin. Some of us need to live shorter lives...

9. Creature-Robot Cross Breeder

Victory! I am now a Creature-Robot Cross Breeder. My work in science is not yet complete, for I have but one more level to reach. The work I have done on these hybrid specimens, coupled with the potions I have discovered in my spare time, have allowed me to finish 99.9% of the vampirocillin. I just need one more day to test the cure for any ill effects, and it will be ready for the medical market! I know just who to give the first vial...

10. The Cure

My sweet grandma Oliana was the first to try the Dillardus Vampirocillin. Her husband died eons ago, but she hadn't aged a day. She knew how lucky she was to live to see her great-grandchildren, but she had enough of this life. She wanted to be with her husband. The vampirocillin wouldn't kill her or age her immediately into elderhood, but she was okay with that. She just wanted to be able to walk in the sun again.

The Dillardus Vampirocillin was a massive success. After news had traveled that Oliana took it well, the cure sold like hotcakes. It managed to rack up $32,000 simoleans within a weekend. The science center couldn't thank me enough.

A few of those afflicted with Dillardus Vampirism chose to stay as they were, however. I began to realize that the moon at night was just as beautiful as the sun at day; and I knew that I could study Dillardus Vampirism further and find a way to prolong ordinary life even further than Jarrett Kiope could. 

My uncle eventually took the cure and settled down, but not me. I enjoyed this life I was given. And that, my dear sims, ends my scientific journal. I hope you learned something.

Son of Mine - Round 1

Terrance rode his bike to his father's house to stay the weekend. It's been awhile since he lived under his father's roof, and he didn't quite know how things would go with his new stepmother...who also happened to be his aunt.

Torrance walked into the foyer to get a book when he spotted his dad's wedding picture. He was sort of sickened by it.

Father and son gathered around the dining room table to discuss the next day's events over waffles and a book.

For the moment, Torrance and Patrick got along well. They played a game of shuffleboard together before it was bedtime for Torrance.

Of course, being the rebellious teenager he was, Torrance didn't appreciate being told what to do. He yelled at his dad and then stormed off angrily into his room.

The next morning, Patrick taught Torrance what being a Monte truly meant; lots of weeding, watering, and harvesting for two hours or more - and that's if it's a team effort!

Then they took a trip to the nectary, so Patrick could teach his son about the family business. He picked up quickly, much to his father's delight.

But of course, if you leave a teenager unsupervised around nectar, he will drink it.

And when he drinks, he almost always drinks too much.

Meanwhile, Hilda got tired of mixing drinks and decided to take a foray into a virtual world of fantasy. She lost when the villagers started hunting her, but at least she made a cool fireball.

Patrick capped off their Saturday evening with a father/son fishing event. They spent the rest of the weekend quietly bonding with some games and tutoring.

That Sunday afternoon, a very emotional Nancy came to the nectary with a pained expression on her face. Of course, it was just her reaction to the sound of her husband playing guitar. ;)

Sunday night was bittersweet. Father and son had to say goodbye, and remain apart until next weekend. Torrance never really had a father before, but now that he has one, he was reluctant to leave him.

But, time goes on, and life as the Montes knew it didn't change all that much.