Berkley’s doing alright, getting good grades, the future’s so bright he gotta wear shades.

Me, I’m not such a bright spark. I realise now I’ve been spelling his name wrong for the entirety of these posts. OH WELL TOO LATE NOW! Also becoming a poindexter doesn’t mean you can slack on your homework Berkster so get to it.

Meanwhile, Timothy’s dear friend Celeste has moved from Stage 5 Clinger to full-on I’m-gonna-sneak-into-your-house-steal-some-of-your-hair-and-swap-your-dog-with-a-skunk. She’s supposed to be a relatively pleasant Family sim, I literally do not understand how any character in this game expects to maintain a friendship with answerphone messages that harsh!

Nothing really noteworthy here, I just wanted to capture the fact that Sally, whose resting child face was one of the grumpiest I’d ever seen, has grown into a teenager with like the SWEETEST smile. Her little face! Cheeks still pinchable but minus the angry death stare from her younger years.

Obligatory wholesome shot of Benny the puppy disappearing into his massive bowl of food because we need cute content.

I got bored of Timothy becoming a master gamer due to his endless hours at the chess set so I decided to boost his Logic skill with a fancy telescope instead. And what did that bring us? Orange-Clothed Science Guy! If you’re not familiar with him click on his tag because this photo doesn’t do his Orange From Head To Toe outfit justice.

I think Viv was really enjoying that her workday started and ended at the same time as the kids’ school day, evidenced by the little convoy of bus and cop car arrivals here. Well, that schedule’s slightly out of whack now because she’s been promoted to VICE! VICE stands for ‘Vivian Is Cop Elite’. It does.

NO ETSU YOU CANNOT BRING BEATRICE HOME I STILL HAVEN’T CHANGED HER FLIPPING FESTIVE ELF OUTFIT

Tim got a promo too! He’s at that point in his career where it takes about eight years to gain a single skill point, so everything’s really laborious and he hasn’t seen his family in weeks because he’s either stuck at the chess set or the bookcase. Could be why friends like Celeste are leaving him clingy messages, although I’m pretty sure I’ve made an effort for him to talk to her like every day.

Man, the ONE TIME Timothy doesn’t have the ‘See Wolf’ want in his stupid Knowledge wants panel and the bastard thing shows up at the door, TYPICAL. However it is nice to see its very cool glowy heterochromic eyes, never spotted those before.

Vivian: *smashes piano keys*

Sally: *watches sportsball*

Etsu: Yeah so I’m gonna be a teenager soon and then I’ll be big enough to fling you around and stuff, won’t that be fun –

Berkley: But, do you have to fling me arou –

Etsu: IT’S MANDATORY

Belladonna Cove, officially twinned with Veronaville! Put it on a sign! We now have Summerdreams turning up here. Heavily pregnant Summerdreams. I really ought to go in and check on Titania so she can produce what’s probably absolutely guaranteed to be twins knowing my game. That’s pretty much the exact amount I myself am sticking out right now IRL also. BOMP!

Good work Sally! Your new hours are horrible for a high school student but if this means you’ll get a scholarship and more quickly earn your place in a career yelling at people for a living it’ll all be for the greater good.

WE ALREADY JUST TALKED TO ALL THESE PEOPLE LIKE A DAY AGO, maaaan, is Vivian not even allowed to take a quick swim to boost her Body skill without being inundated with clingy nonsense. Also I love how Bianca calls her every day and yet she’s one of the very few Montys who hasn’t actually shown up at this house.

Bianca: For all you know, I might be practising social distancing.

You just suggested going shopping you terrible moron

Bianca: I could have meant jumping on a Skype video call and going online shopping?

Enough

Etsu: I for one am glad that the world is finally coming round and viewing me as the Queen Bee I so truly am.

I couldn’t have picked a more appropriate sweater for her tbh.

Sally: No, my little brother doesn’t talk to strang – wait, you’re the Nanny aren’t you? Why are you calling him? Get lost, this ain’t some remake of Harold and Maude.

Berkley: Yo is that my girl Calista Despret?

Sally: Ha! ‘Despret’ being the operative word. I don’t trust the nannies here as far as I can throw them – just look at what they’re capable of. 

Sally: So sit the frack back down Berkley, I don’t want you associating with such monsters.

Etsu: 🎵 The scattered souls will feel the hell Bodies wasted on the SHOOOOOOOOOORES!!!

Berkley:

Spiky-Haired Music Man: Etsu I have this plaque for you pls enjoy.

Etsu: DAMN STRAIGHT

AND VERY EXCITED SHE IS ABOUT IT TOO

Welcome to the Cho Riley family, former cocaine baron puppy Benny!

I actually had to force, force Etsu outside to greet the dog she’d so ardently pined for. By contrast, Sally picks him up and snuggles him autonomously every two seconds despite having zero interest in animals.

Sally to Benny:

Etsu had the Puppy Want locked for a time, so I finally relented and had Vivian’s very attractive and stylish coworker come drop a smol babydog off. 

Given I have the no-respawn mod (which I think applies to adoptables as well as strays?) and a heck of a lot of pups and kits have been adopted already by now, I think we’re likely at the barrel-scraping point personality-wise – I’m pretty sure we’re probably talking Doofus, Hyper, Independent, Aggressive, Pigpen. But hey, they all need homes and love!

The fact that the police always drop off the pets makes me think they come from evidence lock-up or something. Maybe Etsu’s new friend once belonged to Belladonna Cove’s most notorious cocaine dealer.