grandma Nina in the clubbing business

December 2077, Benjamin Gothier and Nina Shaw-Gothier are 61. (Maxwell Shaw is 31)

"Mom, can I borrow $12,000?" Maxwell says.

Nina wonders if he thinks she can't see that mischievous look on his face!

"What for?" she says. Though, she doesn't really need to ask. For a year now, Maxwell has been going on about that stupid old house, and how it would make, in his words, "a sweet-ass night club." The thing is, Maxwell has never been very bright or business-minded, so she isn't sure lending him the money is a good idea. "I don't know," she says. "You can't even hold down the shady kinds of jobs you do get yourself into."

"Mom, I'm a grown man!" he says.

"Well, you sure don't dress like one!" she says.

She talks about it with Benjamin that night. The club in itself is actually a good idea. She could make Maxwell a partner, and if he proves himself trustworthy, she'll hand it over completely some day. After all, she is 61 now, she doubts she'll want to keep up with it for very long. She and Benjamin would like to retire eventually. It's supposedly haunted, so that alone ought to get some people in the door. It's almost a sure thing! Maxwell actually has a little bit of money saved, which is surprisingly responsible of him. They'll see about a loan in the morning.

Nina is a bestselling author of self-help books, so her name should be worth something in getting a loan approved. They don't have much equity in their home, and Benjamin is not working at the moment. They go to the Riley Estates Company to speak with a loan officer.

"Well, it is a really neat business idea, why don't you have a talk with Mr. Riley about it." So they talk to Bryson Riley, who wants to talk mainly about the weather - but hey, he likes the idea, he and Nina click, and he approves the loan, taking a five percent fee, of course.

So there they are then, and they own the place. It's big and empty and dark and dingy. It's so very drafty that everyone keeps their coats on. "Here's to luck," Nina says. They're going to need it!

First things first, Maxwell figures maybe he and Valerie should christen the bedroom, since you know, who knows what kind of shady business is going to go on in that bed...

Maxwell knows some old college friends looking for work.

Joseph is their DJ, and the dance floor is deep down in the basement. They kept the original coffins for atmospheric effects - but they're actually quite comfy for sleeping in if anyone gets tired!

Heather is their bartender. She is actually an old girlfriend of Maxwell's, but Valerie doesn't need to know that...

They try out a couple of test runs before the grand opening, and people seem to be enjoying themselves. They're up to rank 2 already. Maybe mostly because of Maxwell's charms? You know how the ladies get around Maxwell, and it doesn't look like he minds the attention. It's just part of the job, right?

(that isn't Heather, by the way - Maxwell just likes blondes...)

They install an elevator, even though all those stairs really do give the place a certain character. Fit and healthy as they are, Benjamin and Nina are getting a little old for that many stairs! It looks like everything is shaping up for their grand opening this weekend.

***

Friday night comes, grand opening night. Nina is exhausted from setting up all month, and decides to sit out with the kids, so Valerie can go to the opening with Maxwell. Little Devon just turned one year old this month, and is looking like she'll be quite the pretty little girl.

Nina also picks out something a little more respectable for Maxwell to wear. "You can't host your club's grand opening dressed like a shabby frat boy, you know," she says. "There. Looks like you actually own the place."

Valerie has a really good time at the opening, even if things are kind of slow.

And they decided to arrange for catering. It will pay off when they're able to charge higher cover fees.

Amelia Bradshaw is among the first night's guests, though she didn't bring any of her friends. She's never met Maxwell before, and is quite smitten with him! Though, they're all smitten with Maxwell when they first meet him. As smitten as she was though, she kept talking about her ex-boyfriend cheating on her. Maxwell thinks she's gorgeous, but he isn't interested in rebound baggage. He chats with her anyway, because you know, it's part of the job.

Overall, it was a pretty slow night. They were hoping for better. Maybe they set the ticket prices too high. Well, reputations don't build themselves, they suppose.

Meanwhile, how precious is this sleepover at grandma's house??? ;)

***

notes: Nina had the forced chance card pass for this round, and I was hoping for some money, given the current predicament they're in, but instead she got a point of charisma, lol. :)

And ugh! House of Fallen Trees gave me the blue screen of death! Let's hope this isn't a bad omen!

Their grand opening was a really slow night, unfortunately. I teleported in a bunch of my Lake City Sims, but Amelia was the only one who would buy a ticket. Too expensive maybe? I'll try lower next time. I think it would be really fun to see a lot of our favorite club kids in the same place - fun, or trouble maybe? lol!

Last time I played Maxwell, I thought he might be a changed man in his guilt-ridden thoughts about straying from Valerie, but nope. This time, he was rolling all kinds of wants to flirt and kiss all of those pretty club bunnies. He's a good boy when Valerie is around though. I don't know if this club venture is going to be very healthy for their marriage, lol.