The Rainsworth Legacy 2.1: Beefin’ Up

I currently work 4 different jobs, which eats up a large majority of my time. I haven’t played The Sims since March…! Every time I plunk my ass down to play or start an update, I always end up getting too distracted by whatever shiny thing I’ve put up on the T.V. But now that I’ve got Persona 5 Royal out of my system, I can finally finally start focusing on things outside of my PS4 again! Because this update was done very slowly over the course of, like, eight months, the tone and such may change here and there. When you’re reading a Stephanie update though, that’s par for the course.

Does anyone know of any good Tumblr blogs or sites that regularly update with new challenges and CC? All the ones that I follow are either on hiatus or post a lot of TS4 stuff, and that’s not exactly what I want. I try to look through the tags, but people keep tagging stuff that is either irrelevant or not what I’m looking for (gameplay pictures, mostly), so it’s been hard to sift through that.

Due to the numerous entries needed to even get through a generation (thus delaying my playing since I don’t like the idea of having to catch up to generations and generations of my legacy), I might start doing a large summary post of each generation instead to make things a little easier for myself. But who knows! I will need to ponder on it for a bit more time.

Last time on the Rainsworth Legacy…

Griffin and Carina got married and moved out. Yuki died and was replaced by Yuki II. Oriana chose Trista to be the new heiress, and at Trista’s birthday party, Holt unfortunately passed away from vampire thirst, even though he had just finished drinking from Oriana. Alec did not care about his stepdad’s passing at all, showing that being the father of four little girls does something to your empathy receptors.

And on with the show!

Considering the way her father died, it’s not much of a surprise that Trista spends at least an hour every meal just slurping down plasma. Thankfully, plasma’s low in carbs, so she’s not going to get fat.

I didn’t mention it last time because I was in such a hurry to finish the update but Trista’s LTW is Golden Tongue, Golden Fingers. Since it’s a skill-based LTW, I can plunk her into any career I want to. She’s working in the music industry right now.

Poor Oriana’s still very broken up about Holt’s passing. She expected that he would eventually have to see her off, and never prepared herself for the possibility of the other way around.

The population of the house dropped drastically in a short amount of time, so Oriana and Trista decided to spend the first few days of Trista’s heirship sleeping in the same room. Even tough vampires and former military ladies get lonely.

With Beatriz aggressively heterosexual, and all of Trista’s other female friends straight as well, we decided to use the matchmaker at the local spa.

Pop Quiz! Why is Trista crying in this picture?
     a) She is upset that her father died during her birthday party.
     b) She has something in her eye.
     c) There is only one other lesbian in town.
If you answered ‘c’, you would be correct! I really should’ve populated Sunset Valley a little more, but I wasn’t thinking straight at the time (no pun intended – I’m pretty sure I was drunk while playing this part of the game).

Well, we did have to pay to see the matchmaker, so we might as well call up the only other lesbian in town. Trista already seems unsure about this whole venture.

Meet Justina Langerak, who is the daughter of Parker Langerak and Wanda York. DD (who was Oriana’s first love and Alec’s father) was her great-uncle. Everything is connected.

Justina: Yeah, I got a call from the matchmaker today about you. I didn’t know there were other lesbians in town.
Trista: You’d think there would be more, considering the size of Sunset Valley.
Justina: There used to be, but I guess most of them moved away after finding someone.

Trista: Ugh. You’d think life would be easier for us now that it’s 2019.
Justina: You’d think.

I’m glad you two like each other, since there’s literally no other lesbians in town (I lie, there was one more person, but she was way too old for Trista). Again, I really don’t know why the thought of ‘I can just make more and add them into town’ didn’t cross my mind.

It didn’t take long before these two were smooching away in the kitchen. I’m glad you two actually like each other!

I know you like Justina, but could you relax a little? Maybe stop breathing on her? You’re making a bit of a bad impression with your plasma breath, Trista.

When there’s only one person in the whole town you’re attracted to, you don’t want to waste time waiting for nonexistent fish! Justina and Trista sealed the deal ASAP.

Trista may be delighted to finally find a fine dame in her life, but that doesn’t mean she’s over Holt’s death yet! She’s still very broken up about his extremely untimely demise, and no amount of kissing or Woohooing can help her right now.

Trista’s not the only one. Oriana’s a right mess. She doesn’t want to do anything all day except paint sad watercolours. She doesn’t want to talk to any of her sons, nor does she want to get in contact with her friends. Oriana, just like Trista, still needs some time.

When she isn’t at home practicing charisma in front of the mirror, she’s out in the park busking away. She can only do so at night for obvious reasons, so she isn’t making much bank right now.

The park really isn’t that far away from the Rainsworth residence, but hunger strikes fast and sudden. Even just feeling that particular gnawing itch at the back of her throat causes Trista to shift into hunter mode. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and when nature equips you with the perfect tools for hunting sims, you might as well use them!

Trista: A-HA! A nice and delicious-looking young man. He’ll be quite yum to dine on tonight!

Unfortunate Wan Offspring: Uh, what?

(I am so unhappy with the shoddy editing I did in this pic, but I saved over the original, unfortunately!)

Trista: Hm, you really don’t look that appetizing up close. But beggars can’t be choosers. Now, hold out your hand for me please?
Unfortunate Wan Offspring: Uh, why?
Trista: I happen to be a very good fortune teller and I’ll tell you your future for free. Don’t you want to know how you become a famous and rich rock star?
Unfortunate Wan Offspring: I…guess so?
Trista: Good boy.

CHOMP!

Unfortunate Wan Offspring: GURK!!

Trista: Delightful! You’re taking your vitamins, I see. Very good, very good.
Unfortunate Wan Offspring: Starships….starships…..
Trista: You’ll be out of it for a while, but the sun’s coming up soon. I’m sure the police will find you and escort you home. I’ll make sure to find you the next time I need a scrumptious snack! How did I put up with those horrid plasma packs in the refrigerator all this time?

Because you’re supposed to be eating breakfast with your poor lonely mother! Even if that means snorting down frozen plasma!

Oriana: Is this really going to be the rest of my life? Eating alone for every meal? No husband, no daughter? Just the rat in here with me?

I got Trista home lickety-split as the sun began to rise, and she thanked me by complaining rather rigorously about it.

Trista: Hey, hello, I don’t want to be cooped up at home all day! I want to go outside and do something fun (like maybe Justina)!

Do you really want to meet the same fate as your dad? You know I’m having a bad track record keeping my vampires alive.

Here, why don’t you cut some coupons and go to work like a real contributing member of society? And yes, even though you might know I dislike giving my skill-based LTW Sims a job, the family’s going to need a stable cash flow. Trista’s busking time will be limited since she can’t do it during the day, and Oriana’s life bar is filling up quite fast.

Even if I send Trista to the most populated areas around town for busking, that doesn’t mean any money is coming our way. The citizens of Sunset Valley would rather do quite literally anything other than listening to Trista’s tunes and donating. Newsflash: life as a musician is tough. Who knew?

As the only other person in the house (period), Oriana has to complete Trista’s portrait before she passes. I’ve been neglecting to do very basic legacy stuff lately in my legacies, but that’s not new.

I really have to thank Trista’s vampiric vitality for allowing her to keep up with the busy schedule I’ve imposed upon her. Not only does she have a fulltime job at the theatre, but she also has to busk every weeknight. Weekends are Justina Time. She doesn’t really have any time for herself, but I think seeing Justina every Saturday and Sunday alleviates her stress more than any spa treatment.

Even if Justina has two left feet…

… all is forgiven by the time the moon rises to her zenith.

Justina: When you first knocked on my door, I thought you were the only choice I had in the most literal sense. There was no other woman in town who loved women, and so I thought I had to settle for you.
Trista: Wow, that’s –
Justina: Let me finish! Now I see that you’re the only one for me. My soulmate, I should say. Even if there were a thousand lesbians in town? I would never be happy if I wasn’t with someone as beautiful and special as you.

Trista: And I feel the same for you, Justina. Even if you become old and wrinkled, I can say for sure there will never be anyone as lovely as you in all of Sunset Valley.
Justina: Don’t you want to grow old with me? Discard your vampirism?
Trista: I….I never thought about that, to be honest. The idea of becoming a normal Sim? Ludicrous. Unthinkable.
Justina: Well, I hope you ponder on it. For me.

Trista’s heir portrait looks ridiculous, I love it.

Oriana: Oh, Holt, if only you were here to see how beautiful our daughter has become! The two of you were finally starting to get along again!

I do feel bad about poor Oriana. I’ve seen some simmers ship legacy elders off to live with spares if they get a little too lonely in the main house, but I didn’t really think to do that for Oriana. In retrospect, I realize I really don’t think too much when I play The Sims 3. This is why I gave up on ever writing a coherent Sims story; I just have too much fun in the moment.

Trista invited Justina over for a very important question (*cough*) and decided to set the mood with one of her original serenades.

Trista: ♪ When we met~ I knew you’re the apple of my eye~ ♪
Justina: What a beautiful melody….but the lyrics can use a bit of work.

Justina: I love it, though! You should record it and let me put it on my phone!

Oh…Justina….that face….

Trista: If you loved that song, you’re going to enjoy this next surprise.
Justina: Please tell me it won’t involve a jump-scare.
Trista: Why in the world would I jump-scare you?
Justina: I don’t know, maybe vampires think it’s romantic? This is why I think you would be better off turning yourself into a Sim, Trista…
Trista: That’s not what vampires are –! Never mind! Just…here….

Trista: Justina Langerak, will you marry me and become Justina Langerak-Rainsworth?

Justina: Oh my stars, are you kidding me, Trista?! Of course I will!

Justina: Langerak-Rainsworth is a bit of a mouthful, though. Just Rainsworth is fine. Justina Rainsworth has a nice ring to it.
Trista: Why not Trista Langerak?
Justina: Eh, like we need more Langeraks running around Sunset Valley.

And without further ado…*jingle jingle*

I’ve read many legacies with same-sex couples that try and come up with a reason for how a same-sex marriage produce biological children. Do you think I, Stephanie “Lazybones” Simbelline, would go through the effort of coming up with an original reason for how this is possible? Heck, no! That would require too much thinking and planning in-game than I am willing to shill out. You will just have to suspend your disbelief, I’m afraid.

Meet Justina Langerak, soon to be Justina Rainsworth. She’s perceptive, neat, and dramatic, who is a bit of a heavy sleeper. She also has the unfortunate tendency to steal things, making her quite the little kleptomaniac. Justina wants to Become a Master Thief. I see we invited a little troublemaker into the family!

Justina looks quite frightening in this picture here, if I’m quite honest. There’s something about her face that makes her fine to look at in-game but when I try to take pictures of her, there’s always something she’s doing with her expression that makes her look like she’s going to melt me into a pool of wax with her mind powers. That’s part of her charm!

The excitement of this whole engagement was a tad too much for poor Oriana, I see.

Oriana: Wait, but I haven’t finished making a celebratory pot of goopy carbonara!

Trista: No! Mom!
Justina: Trista?! What’s wrong?
Oriana: My heart and body feel so….light. I haven’t felt this good in, well….I can’t even remember the last time I felt like this.

Trista: Please, have a heart! At least let my mom stay until my wedding with Justina!
Grim: YOU THINK THERE’S A HEART IN MY RIBCAGE? HA! SO FUNNY, YOU VAMPIRES. AND NO, NATURE CALLS WHEN NATURE CALLS. THERE IS NO HELPING THAT.
Trista: That’s not what ‘nature calls’ means, I think!

Oriana: These past few months have been quite hard on my old bones, Grim. You came at a most opportune moment.
Grim: I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT, ORIANA. MANY PEOPLE BEYOND AWAIT YOUR ARRIVAL.
Oriana: Is that supposed to be comforting or menacing?
Grim: I THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE LINEUP, YOU’LL FIND THAT I’M TRYING TO BE LIFT YOUR SPIRITS. DO YOU GET IT? BECAUSE I WILL BE PHYSICALLY LIFTING YOU TO THE STARS.
Oriana: Oh, Grim! You crack me up! It’s just been such a funny day. I can’t wait until I can tell Holt all about it.

Goodbye, Oriana, my lovely founder. You didn’t complete your Lifetime Wish and kick-off this second Leap Wishes on a high note. But you were a blast to play.

Justina: Boohoo! I didn’t even ask Oriana for her blessing!

I have the oddest feeling that not getting approved from the mother-in-law is going to be the furthest thing from your mind very soon, Justina.

I decided to save some time by allowing Justina to also be pregnant during this time. Double the pregnant ladies = double the amount of babies in a short amount of time!

Justina: Who needs real babies when we can have fur babies! Right, Yuki?

Please don’t wake the rat up.

The two are already settling into a domestic rhythm. When Justina focuses on her cardio workout (to make sure she’s fit and ready to run from the cops any time and any place), Trista takes it upon herself to make sure the temperature in the living room is just right.

Trista: Is this all right, my dear?
Justina: Ideally, I’d rather you get rid of the fire entirely. It gets so hot I think my thighs are chafing against the denim whenever I do a lunge.

This is probably the first and only “nice” picture I have of Justina. Doesn’t she just look pleasant and sweet? She’s got the face of a forest nymph and the body of Ryan Gosling.

Trista probably believes in the benefits of music on a growing embryo, and so she’s always jamming away on her trusty axe. Justina doesn’t care about early development or any of that nonsense – she just loves to make music and have fun.

It’s time for a very important question the two must pop to each other, and there’s no place quite like the poolside club for that! It’s Justina’s first time at the establishment and she seems very excited. She must not know about its bloody history…

Thankfully, the owners of the club are quite keen on local history or something, because they didn’t even sweep up poor Holt’s ashes. Well, at least he can’t complain about not being included in his daughter’s wedding.

Actually Holt isn’t involved at all! Not everything is about Mr. Dead Vampire Dad after all. Justina and Trista exchange vows and rings outside by the pool, like how every little girl fantasizes their wedding going. Well, as long as they’re happy.

The reason why Trista is wearing something so ugly at the club as opposed to her normal outfit is because she’s popped! Generation 3 is officially on its way.

Justina’s also popped! Operation 2x Babies 1/2 Time is coming along ~fantastic~

Of course, two pregnant women who don’t actually know each other that well (despite being, uh, married) might mean that tensions occasionally run high.

Justina: Stop cheating at chess, Trista! There’s a reason why I only want you to take ten seconds per turn. You’re cheating by using your vampire smarts to take all my pieces!

Trista: That’s not ‘cheating’, that’s just me being good at the game. Maybe if you read a few logic books instead of trying to make your biceps bigger than your head, you’d know how to reverse my gambits.

It never feels good to essentially be called an idiot by your wife, so Justina often finds herself retreating into the solace of the day spa so that she doesn’t accidentally say or do something she regrets.

Meanwhile, Trista makes her way across town to the house of the only person left in the world she can bare her soul to.

Her dear brother, Griffin.

And that’s all for now.

—-

I have a last chunk of pictures left on my computer from February that can make up one more update. I’ve been trying to get back in the Rainsworth file and for once, it’s not because I started a shiny new save file. It’s that I genuinely found myself incapable of playing for more than one sim day each session because I didn’t want to get too far ahead in updating. But now that I’ve gotten through the majority of what I have, I think I can start playing guilt-free again.

Since this is my last foray into the Leap Wishes Project before I give up for good (in case you forgot or don’t know, Leap Wishes is my name for a Lifetime Wish legacy encompassing multiple families connected by a shared ancestor), I really want to make each play session and computer time count before my concentration is broken. So like I said in the beginning of the chapter, I’m thinking of writing summaries for generations rather than these kinds of story-dialogue updates. But I genuinely have so much fun writing and reading these updates of mine lol. I’m a little too intoxicated right now to think it through and honestly, if I wait till I sober up to post this, this is never going to see the light of day.