Strangetown extras: Family portraits, gardening, and reader participation + sims talk

[strangetomato]

I just wanted to share a couple of photos and do some sims gabbing about CC and the Kitchen and Bath Stuff Pack.

Have you seen these recolours of the Teen Style Stuff gym wear converted for adults by cloudlessnights on MTS2? I think they're really cute. Lots of nice colours and patterns, and it makes up for the lack of gym clothes in the game. I'm a pretty big fan of conversions like that in general, and migamoo also did some really great ones, including the clothing that Ripp wears right now in this story. Imagine that - a plain black button-up shirt! It seems like something you would take for granted, but I don't, considering how specialized a lot of CC is (and the Maxis stuff too, for that matter). Basics, people, we need basics.

Speaking of basics, the new Kitchen and Bath Stuff seems awesome to me. And it has clothes! Nice clothes. Argyle sweaters with jeans (Buck and Frances just heard that and looked over), and a nice sweater and leggings outfit. Yes, actually classic and nice, not trendy (I couldn't believe it either)! They've posted the item pics at the official site, if you haven't taken a look at them yet. It seems like a good SP to me. Lots of things that have already been done pretty well by Holy Simoly, but some new things too.

I only recently started using the hula mod, and I'm really liking it. Especially the still poses from the lot loading screens. I've always wondered how other people posed sims for photo shoots like that and now I know. I'm so behind sometimes. Anyway, I thought I'd share the results of my tinkering with the poses and moveobjects/snapobjectstogrid.




A little "family" portrait. Aren't they cute? Why limit myself to Sim Couple A & B, when I can pose three together!

You can see Ophelia's garden in the background too. She already has her gold talent badge, and Ripp and Johnny are both getting there too, just from occasionally helping her (the garden got so big that she really needs some help). Here they are in action:




Sure, guys. Why bother getting dressed first? Why not?


ETA: I also just noticed this new "Cottage Garden" loveseat on Holy Simoly. How perfect for Nervous' garden one day! :D The universe just seems to be aligning for me right now.

Also, is anyone interested in some reader participation related to the next chapter? No promises that it will end up in the story, but I'm opening the floor to anything that you would like to see come up in conversation at the dinner party with Johnny, Ophelia, Ripp, Stella and Jayne (within reason and character, of course). I have plenty of my own, but is there anything that you would like to see brought up? Just curious. Maybe I'm overlooking something good...

Comments

[hidden-kitten.livejournal.com]

I'm back! I have nothing else to say except that I'm going back to catch up on what I've missed.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Oh wow! Hey! Welcome back. I was wondering whatever happened to you. Good to see that you're still around. :D I hope you enjoy catching up with everything.

[franwi.livejournal.com]

I wonder what Johnny would look like if he turned into a plantsim, lol.

I love Stella's frankness on sexuality and her research, so I hope she says something that will make stoic Johnny do a spit-take, lol. I mean, it's gonna be pretty uncomfortable for him to begin with. Or maybe Stella says something that makes Ripp as uncomfortable. Wait, would that even be possible? ;) I do wonder if Ripp will be in a (somewhat) sober state of mind or not, considering it's right before the sorority gig.

I was wondering if there's some advantage to the Johnny and Jayne pairing, or why his dad is pushing for it, compared to Johnny spreading his genetics through Ophelia. I suppose they don't want the alien hybrid genetics to dillute too quickly. I'm hoping Stella can explain a bit more about all of that, I guess. :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wonder. Might be fun to try a different shade of green on him. And his friends could be green too! That'd be funny.

It is very likely that Stella might say something awkward or inappropriate, but she generally talks about her research in a vague scientific way until she gets down to business. And she is very careful about who she's dealing with, but it might come up. Yeah, it might be hard to embarrass Ripp, but he does seem a little evasive about the alien thing, doesn't he?

Ripp will definitely be sober(ish) at dinner, since he's with Johnny and Phi. The drinking will happen at the second party, so aside from maybe a bit of bubble blowing... and maybe not even that.

Yeah, it's all about genetics with Johnny and Jayne's marriage. Maybe I didn't explain it well enough in the Stella chapter, but they essentially consider the hybrids a new species, and want to maintain it. Breeding with Ophelia would dilute Johnny's genetics to an unacceptable level in the eyes of the aliens.

Stella is careful about how much she tells to which people. Ripp got informed about some of it because he was going to find out anyway. :P

[sinderellah.livejournal.com]

I don't quite recall whether Johnny told Jayne he has a girlfriend, or whether his father mentioned it? If Stella mentions much about the alien plans (or is this semi-secret? besides the government suspicions, I mean) this could make for interesting conversation. Though I doubt she'd be so forward. But I would get a kick out of some more of her "research" talk/hypotheses with the others. I wonder if this is when the issue of alien vs sim appendages come up?

Tank will only go to the sorority party, right? He won't be at Jayne's house?

[franwi.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see Frances and Tank at the sorority house, lol. I wonder if Ripp is up to something there. This is giving me that "peer through fingers while reading" feeling.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I won't give away the detail about whether Jayne knows or not, but you'll find out.

The alien plans are pretty secret. Johnny doesn't even know everything about them. But some of the details might come up. Minor details. Heheh... like maybe alien appendages. But maybe not. I can imagine the topic coming up, and them Ripp just blurting out his question to Johnny. *snicker* That would be funny.

That's right. Tank's only going to that other party. Johnny and Ophelia don't even know that Ripp invited him.

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

I'm really looking forward to the Kitchen and Bath pack too! Not just for the clothes, either. It will be nice to finally have some variety in dishwashers and trash compactors (I've been very lazy about downloading recolors -- I only have one very industrial/sci-fi looking set).

The argyle sweaters are lovely. And bathrobes! Lots of style variations with those, too, from slobby to swank (at least for the guys -- I didn't see as much variety for the girls' bathrobes).

I'm looking forward to your dinner party chapter. I'm a little worried about how Ophelia's going to react if the business of Johnny and Jayne's (potential) arranged marriage comes up. If I were her, I'd be pretty upset that he never brought it up before. But I guess that's where the drama comes in! And I can't see her staying angry forever.

Like the others here, I'd love to see Stella drop some frank comments and embarrass Ripp, or Johnny, or both. I was going to say that anatomy discussion might not be a fit subject for the table, but Stella might not have caught onto that, yet... :D

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. And it's not so much even recolours that were needed, but different styles. There are some really cool new items in this pack. Some of the screenshots, that show some possible kitchens, look really good.

The argyle sweaters are the best part for me. I downloaded a bunch from MTS2 once, but they came with the worst distressed denim jeans I've ever seen. Very disappointing. These are great, since the jeans are very basic, and I hope to see lots of recolours too. Maybe I'll even make some myself.

That's a good point, but it might not come up a dinner. I down think that Johnny would want to spring it on her in front of Jayne, so he has two other options. Tell Ophelia or tell Jayne to keep it hush hush. Which do you think he'll choose?

Stella has a very basic understanding of proper sim behaviour, and she gets things wrong, so there might be some potential embarrassing situations. She's not completely clueless, but she doesn't understand things as well as a normal sim would. It could be very funny.

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

*eyes the stuff pack, and giggles*

I can just see it now. People are going to write stereotypical trailer park scenes into their stories with those bathrobe/slipper outfits.

As for the dinner party scene, I wonder. It would be funny if Ripp began to ask Jayne about her anatomy, perhaps if it were just the two of them, in a corner, only to be walked in on by either Johnny or Stella. Afterall, Jayne is only half alien, so I'm sure he'd be plenty curious. It could go something like this:

Standing by the bushes, or some plant (maybe a cow plant) conveniently placed, Ripp is so curious about half alien anatomy.

Ripp: So... um.... Jayne! Do you know, have.... um...
*ENTER Johnny* Jayne's eyebrows arch, "Hi, Johnny!"
Ripp: Ouch! Fucking plant bit me!

/scene. Keeping in mind that perhaps Ripp is a little drunk, and therefore not particularly quiet, thus giving Johnny (should he be the one to enter) the hint that Ripp does know about alien anatomy a bit.


That's the only thing that comes to mind right now, sorry. It would certainly be funny to see the scene in action.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Yes, there will be plenty of characters wearing robes in scenes like that. I have no doubt. :P But most of the robes are at least pretty classy.

That would be an awesome scene! *snicker* Especially Ripp getting bitten (eaten?) by the cowplant.

Ripp would certainly be more comfortable asking a pretty girl about her parts, wouldn't he? Maybe even trying to take a peek? And if he doesn't know anything about Johnny's potential marriage... well, what would stop him?

[music-simbol.livejournal.com]

This is so not dinner conversation, but how about it Ripp makes references to the whole probe thing, and the possibility that Johnny has female parts? He wouldn't need to say anything crass, but make subtle remarks that maybe only he and Stella would get.

Then there's the whole arranged marriage topic. Maybe Jayne could bring that up, and then Ophelia would chock on her food and start screaming.

I didn't realize this was a dinner party. I thought it was like a open house type thing, where ppl just stop by to see the new place, have a drink a two, and stick around if they want to. A dinner party makes things more interesting, since it forces conversation. And it would be hard to keep things quiet with everyone at the dinner table....

(Totally looking forward to the chaos that is bound to occur!)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

There might be some in-joking between Ripp and Stella, but Stella already told him that the hybrids shouldn't have alien parts. Ripp isn't entirely convinced, however.

I can see it now...

"So, Johnny, can you please pass the salt, and by the way, do you by any chance have a vagina-like object in your pants?"

Probably not a good thing to bring up at dinner. *snort* Johnny would be the one to choke on his food and die.

Johnny will do his best to avoid any scenario that involves Ophelia choking and screaming. Don't worry. But how good IS Johnny at this secret thing?

Yeah, it's a dinner party. And they do have some school topics that they can stick to (theatre & art being in the same building), and they might chat about alien stuff too. But which stuff, and in how much detail?

Heheh. Chaos ensues.

[sofieamalien.livejournal.com]

Woaw! I love how the Kitchen and Bath stuff things looks!! :D I'm so gonna get that stuff pack when I have money enough!
True I'm a little behind in the EP and SPs... But I HAVE been away fomr my sims for 6 months and away form a store where I can buy the european version of the games..
But I will buy it. And I'll buy Teen Style and I'll buy BV and I'll buy Free time! :D

I love the guys doing the gardning in their undies/jammies!

Oh and for what I'd like to see: Tank's first kiss from a guy - all the confusing feelings and then the realisation that he likes/luRves Worthington... :) *love*

[sinderellah.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of people who read this story want to see Tank be gay! He strikes me as hetero, albeit inexperienced as we've now found out. A drunken kiss from Francis I can see happening, but I don't think it would swing Tank that way? Embarassing, yes, but not orientation-conversion in my mind.

The whole Tank/Frank issue makes me think of two things:
That one scene in American Beauty where the hardcore father kisses Kevin Spacey, and parts of Rescue Me where the Probie was getting bj's from his roommate, but since he was on the receiving end, it didn't make him gay.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I agree. I'm definitely picking that one up when it comes out.

Yeah, the guys are cute, aren't they? They do everything in their pajamas (that counts as Ripp's pajama's because he autonomously sleeps in them). Until Ripp goes for one of his numerous baths, and then he changes. :P

Heheh. Well, I'm not going to promise that this will happen at the party, or even that this is exactly how the exchange with Frances and Tank will go, when it does happen. There will be something, though.

[ndainye.livejournal.com]

I'm really looking forward to Kitchen and Bath stuff as well, but then I'm a completest must have everything! They are almost getting to the point where I'd be willing to clean out my cc again (major project) and only keep Maxis meshes and recolors - except for hair I'd die without my hair.

As for the dinner party I'm wondering what Johnny would think about Stella and Jayne's relationship? The one that was hinting at with the spooning picture in a previous chapter. Johnny's a pretty uptight guy sexually, of course Stella and Jayne's relationship could be reflected as similar to Johnny and Phi's roommates that care for each other and that keep each other warm and seek comfort from each other rather than strictly sexual but with Stella's frankness and scientific approach to human sexuality I don't really see it that way. And I don't think Johnny would either since he's of course known Phi for in his opinion forever, long before the hint of a arranged marriage was proposed. Jayne may just see it as experimentation/curiosity but how would Johnny react to it?

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I'm somewhat of a completionist too, but I'm still giving Bon Voyage the cold shoulder, for now. I have pared my CC way back. I do have most of Holy Simoly's stuff in my game, and a number of recolours and conversions, like I mentioned, but I'm very selective outside of that. It's almost all Maxis or Maxis-like for me. It just suits the game for me. And it keeps things pared down, so my loading times aren't THAT outrageous (they can still be slow at times).

That's a really good point. Excellent, excellent point. And it does depend on how they approach it. Jayne and Stella are involved with each other sexually, and I think that has been pretty clear in the story, but they don't really see it as "a relationship", with Stella's mission being as it is. It might not come up, but will Johnny get the vibe from them?

[cindyanne1.livejournal.com]

I pre-ordered the Kitchen and Bath Decorator (or whatever it was) stuff pack when I pre-ordered Free Time. I got the Prima Guide too, and they're all supposed to be in my hands on Feb 27th! WOOT WOOT WOOT!

I think it would be great to have some reader participation ideas in your story... unfortunately I don't have any, lol! I'm just enjoying reading your story as it is!

Oh that hula mod is the best isn't it? I've had it forEVER but I only just figured out that you have to use the snapobjects cheat when you pose the sims like that! D'oh!

I just put in a new, genetically correct Strangetown! Spent about an hour fixing all the recessive DNA... gave Pascal and Vidcund recessive grey eyes (Kitty had grey) and Lazlo recessive green eyes, and gave them recessive blond hair, and stuff like that. I also gave Chloe and Lola recessive medium skin and brown eyes "from" Glarn... and I fixed Johnny and Jill's genetics, too, to reflect their mixed heritage. I think I even gave Jill green skin. (shrugs) Should be a hoot!

[cindyanne1.livejournal.com]

Okay okay, I thought of something I'd like to see at one point. Doesn't have to be this update, but...

I'd like to see Ripp be in a conversation with three other sims and have it not quite be going his way... (in a lighthearted sense of course)... and then have him say to each person, pointing at them in turn, "F- you, f- you, and f- you." and then get up and walk away. I just think that would be funny. Hee hee hee.

More coffee... I need more coffee.....

[dothesmustle.livejournal.com]

I love a lot of migamoo's custom content. I download so much stuff, and I usually use her clothes. Her children outfits are lovely, but a lot of Maxis children clothes are adorable, too. The sundresses that came with Seasons! The children outerwear that came with Seasons! I loved a lot of the content that comes with Kitchen and Bath Interior Design Stuff, the Circuit City near my house never has any of the stuff packs, which irks me to no end.

Okay...a paragraph about clothes for my sims...I need to remember I have a life, too.

I second the Ripp mentioning Johnny's supposed lady parts conversation. Such lovely dinner conversation, yes?

Ophelia is awesome! How many gold badges does she have now?

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

It's okay, I can chat about sim clothes for ages! But maybe I need a life...

I have some of migamoo's unisex clothing for children, but I don't have that much. The children have a number of good options, and it's really not as important to me as the teens, young adults, and adults. I wish that more of the clothing was assigned for YAs too. It's annoying when it isn't.

I don't really get all the underwear sets for children that people create, though. When are the kids even in underwear? They sleep in pajamas, and they don't woohoo, so when do you ever seen the children's underwear? I just get a slightly creepy vibe from it, but that's probably just me being a bit extreme. I don't see any reason for me to be concerned with whether a little girl has boy cut underwear or not. I'll never see it anyway. I suppose that it might have storytelling uses, like going to the doctor, or something. It never occurred to me that I needed it.

I'm really thinking that it would be good to include (and well, I have already written) a scene where this comes up. But it might be different from what people expect. And not at dinner. ;) I have something that's somewhat "should I?", but I think I will...

That's her second gold badge. Both are flower and garden related. That's her thing. Johnny and Ripp have a lot more skill points than she does, but fewer badges (just bronze gardening for now). Johnny has almost maxed body, and Ripp maxed creativity ages ago, with the band. They both have high charisma too (and Ripp practices "romance" Heehee. He's good at what he does).

[80sfiend.livejournal.com]

Eeek!!! I'm totally interested in reader participation! You know I wish I could be IN THE STORY almost! ;) Well if they play any games, like (drunken)truth or dare, I'd love for Ripp to ask really outrageous things of the girls ;) and see Johnny get all jealous over Ophelia and Jayne. :D And anything that sort of suggests to the others that Stella and Ripp are more than just friends would be awesome...like Johnny trying to get Ripp back but having it backfire on him...like some sort of truth thing where Ripp reveals he knows more about alien biology than Johnny thinks :D. Anything that makes things awkward is always fun. :D <---evil grin :D Or maybe Ripp asks Jayne if she has a crush on anyone...stuff like that. :D

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Heheh. :D Maybe I could put you in there in a supporting role.

I agree. Awkwardness is good, and we'll have plenty of that, don't worry. I can't see them playing truth or dare, though (Johnny would never agree to it, and I'm pretty sure that Ophelia, and even Ripp might balk at it). It would be very fun if they did.

There really might be a number of hints about Ripp and Stella though. ;)

[saunasims.livejournal.com]

All these people wanting to know about the specifics of alien anatomy, Tank's sexuality, Johnny's romantic triangle etc clearly don't have their priorities straight. You're all forgetting the most important thing!

I, for one, want to see Ripp talk about his hair and if he's going to cut it/keep it/grow it. :D

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Good point. Did I mention that I really like the way your mind works? Nice attention to superficial details! *grin* That's always good.

I just may address that issue briefly. That is something that can indeed be worked in quite easily, since I have been considering that very thing lately.

[simgarooop.livejournal.com]

Since I watched a contest at S2C about decorating rooms with JUST Maxis stuff and recolors. The rooms looked incredible! And the fact that my graphics card and RAM can handle them without lag makes it even better.

That stuff pack looks awesome too! Maxis/EA has really improved with their designs lately, so much that I ditched all my CC objects and just kept Maxis stuff and recolors (except for Holy Simoly). I'm not fond of the "minimalistic" or "modern" stuff that is quite popular among creators, it seems a bit cold to me.

I've also been downloading conversions or Maxis recolors for clothing, and I now prefer those too. I love Migamoo, Lemonbutter and Cloudlessnights stuff for that reason.

Anyway...

I guess everyone has already suggested most ideas I'd have for the dinner scene, since it's going to be an important moment for Johnny. I just hope none of them ends up hurt (although I know that's almost impossible).

I just wonder what Tank would think of Ripp's "relationship" with Stella (I don't recall if he's against aliens like Buzz or if he only hates Johnny).

And I loved the way you posed them with the Hula Mod. I thought you were using it since the beginning of the story! :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

We seem to have much the same preference for CC. I'm a big fan of Holy Simoly too. It really just fits into the Maxis style, and it's so well done. I do like modern and minimalist things, but like everything, I only need so much of any one style, so I don't download much of the CC out there.

I love those conversions! I have a lot of the things that Cloudlessnight has converted. I forgot to mention Lemonbutter, but I should have. I use a lot of her H&M recolours.

Well, someone could end up hurt, but not necessarily. The two women that we're dealing with are both pretty tough in different ways. Oh wait - maybe Johnny is the one who gets hurt. *snicker* It might not be quite the dramafest that it could be (and maybe people are expecting), but there will be some.

Good point. Tank does have a lot of his father's opinions about aliens. That's only shown a little here and there (like his reluctance to agree to be allies with P.T. No.9). He has other issues with Johnny, but at the core, he really just doesn't like the aliens. That's where a lot of it began.

I'm very much a newcomer to the hula mod. I was using the "black box" for animations and facial expressions, and a lot of other things were just moveobjects. I have InSIm too, but that's about it. The hula mod is excellent. I can't see how I managed without some of the reactions in it now. It's been very helpful to me lately.

[clementine28.livejournal.com]

I was just wondering where you found the Hula Mod. I have searched all over and cant seem to locate it.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

It's one of Squinge's hack, now located here in the Graveyard:

http://sims2graveyard.com/download.html