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

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

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...

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

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. :)

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?

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

*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.

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!)

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*

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?

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!

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?

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

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

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! :)

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

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