Mariah and James have been dating for two years now, and though they adore each other, they're still
The huge problem in their relationship is that his chosen line of work is not any kind of work
could approve of - and there's no budging on either side. "It's not valid work," she says. "I can't tell my parents you do that. What am I supposed to tell them?"
"And what about you?" he says. "You just want to wear pretty dresses and go to parties. That's not work either."
"At least it's legal," she says. "James, my mother is the Mayor!"
So if Mariah gives him the cold shoulder every time he talks about their future, then this is why. The thing is, James graduates this year, and in place of a respectable internship, he's been talking to
Maxwell Shaw and has secured some work as a pickpocket! She hoped he was just being theoretical about wanting to be a criminal - but now, he actually is!
"Let's not talk about it," he says. "We'll just argue."
Mariah loves him dearly, but she thinks maybe it's a bad sign that they have such massive issues they can't even talk about.
***
Luke is sharing a house with Chandler, and two other roommates Thomas and Micah. Luke's been worried about Mariah lately. He feels it is imperative that he invites her over so they can talk.
"Why would you worry about me?" she asks. "I was worried about you, since your boyfriend looks a little edgy, but he really seems like a nice guy."
Luke doesn't know exactly why he's been worried. Her boyfriend seems like a nice guy too, but you know, looks can be deceiving. "And your grades are okay?" he asks.
"Yeah, they're okay."
"That's good," he says. Well, that's settled then, and Luke goes to class.
And it was after Luke had gone that Mariah met one of their roommates, Micah, a weird and silly guy who wanted to play rock-paper-scissors with her. It comes out that he thinks he's seen her around before.
"Do you know Amelia Bradshaw?" he asks.
"Yeah, she's my cousin!"
"No way! We were "hanging out" for a little while."
Mariah tries not to think about that in too much detail.
"Hey, I feel like having a party," he says. "Do you want to help me throw a party?"
"I love parties," Mariah says. "Do you like dresses?"
"On girls, I do!" he says.
And here, the big question of all, she asks him, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"Well, don't laugh at me or anything, I know it's shooting for the stars and all, but I'd love to be Mayor some day. "
She doesn't need to tell him
what her mom does, but she just says, "I don't think that's shooting too high at all."
He's cute, Mariah is thinking - regardless of the ick-factor that
he used to "hang out" with Amelia (though it certainly wouldn't be the first time these Bradshaw cousins swapped lovers!) - the thing is, Mariah isn't really sure James is the guy she wants to settle down with for the rest of her life, and for all his talk of engagement and future, she's never really seen him in her future, or anyone for that matter. Sure, he's her first love, but most people don't settle down with their first love, do they?
But anyway, party supplies are in order, so they wait for Luke to come home from class and they all walk across the street to go shopping, except that they can't keep from staring at each other... it's almost like they've known each other in another lifetime or something!
So Luke does most of the shopping, while Mariah and Micah talk instead...
And when the party starts, they ignore it, and talk...
And talk...
And talk...
And some time around 4:00 in the morning, Mariah thinks this might be what it's like to meet your soul mate... it's too bad she has a boyfriend.
The next morning, James calls for Luke. He never heard from Mariah last night, and she said only that she was with Luke.
Luke says, "Dude, it's totally not cool to check up on your girlfriend!"
That afternoon, after most of the partiers have finally rolled off of the couches and gone home, Chandler and Luke are discussing the epic situation of their brokeness - they both had to take out student loans to cover their tuition this semester.
Never mind Piper, in a t-shirt and her underwear. She came to the party with Charlotte last night, and now she's just hanging out, drinking some coffee half naked, which is okay, she figures, since Luke is gay, and since she wouldn't mind getting into bed with Chandler if he would man up and put the moves on. She stayed over all night too, but she doesn't have a boyfriend to check up on her anymore.
The conclusion, later that afternoon, is that Chandler finds work as a gas station attendant, and Luke finds work as a record store clerk. And Chandler still hasn't put any moves on Piper, and she eventually goes home.
LOL, Chandler fails at a lot of things, mac and cheese included!
Ummm, Luke lost a grade in his drama class because he wouldn't accept a flirt from his pervy old professor??? Isn't that against school sexual harassment code on so many levels??? (LOL, in a tragic way!) He ends up having to pull an all-nighter to finish his term paper and salvage his grade.
Four dudes in this house, and the bathrooms are lovely!
***
Jeremiah isn't a student anymore, but he continues to meet Stephanie on campus for dinner. And virginity is the topic of conversation tonight. Stephanie is appalled! This is totally not dinner conversation! Jeremiah says, "Mine was Bella Bradshaw." Dana says, "I can't remember mine." Justin says to Keri, "You were mine, Babe." Keri says, "Yeah, what's the big deal about virginity anyways?" Hers was Chandler Price.
Students are already impressed with
the new university president, and all the hard work she's done so far. As well as installing showers on the main floor of Frosh Hall, Meadow has installed vending machines on each of the residence floors. Now Keri can just walk straight out of her dorm room in her underwear and grab a snack when she's starving from all that crazy college sex she and Justin are having - you know, it really burns the calories!
Meadow's second decision as new university president, as most universities eventually do, is to raise tuition. Lake City University will now charge $1500/semester or $750/class-unit. Takemizu Academy will charge $5000/year. Residence fees will be raised as well: Frosh Hall to $700/semester, Academy Hall to $1200/semester, and a new efficiency hall will be built in place of the current private housing, with rooms priced at $300/semester. Meadow is also in talks with the Riley Estates Company, about building private townhomes for students wishing to live off-campus. All changes will take effect for the 2080/81 school year.
Keri declares a major in economics, and
not because she wants to study business, but because it's good for politics and government too, and because she and Justin can take classes together. Keri is helping Justin with a logic class. Justin isn't really paying much attention to his chess game. It looks like he's got more important things on his mind, things that are exciting and terrifying all at once.
Keri and Justin have both put in applications to study at
Takemizu Academy next year. Stephanie can't afford a school like that though. She's always wanted to travel the world, to go places more interesting than the confines of Lake County, but she doesn't have the kind of money their families have, and she certainly can't afford to go to Takemizu Academy. But this is what happens when you pair up your two best friends—they go off to see the world without you. It makes Stephanie sad. "Is this really going to be our last year together?"
"Not our last year ever," Keri says. "God, you're acting like we'll never see each other again."
Mariah comes over to visit - where she runs into Micah yet again, because he's just everywhere... no need for more pictures of them talking and farting hearts at each other, you know they did - and Keri prepares dinner for her big sister - hamburgers in the Frosh Hall kitchen. But anyway, Mariah says, "My baby sister's in college, I'm so proud."
***
Mariah throws an end of semester party... just because. Mariah wants to be a professional socialite when she grows up, so she considers this part of her college coursework.
Micah and James end up dancing right next to each other for a moment. James obviously doesn't know it's Micah whom his girlfriend has been spending so many nights chatting with, and Micah knows Mariah has a boyfriend, but she didn't say who.
It isn't long before James disappears from the party. He's not really the party type, and has probably gone upstairs to hang out in the quiet of Mariah's bedroom. And it isn't long before Micah finds Mariah in the kitchen, and they had an in-depth conversation about movies.
Luke and Jim just finished declaring their love for each other, but Luke can't help thinking about how hot Cameron is. LOL! We suppose Cameron is just
that hot!
Mariah thinks love is hilarious, in fact, she doesn't know if she gets it at all!
Luke and Jim think something smells awful... not sure what (?).
And then, note that Jeremiah and Cameron are in the same room and
haven't tried to beat each other up yet! Maybe Jeremiah is finally, honestly moving on? He feels like Stephanie must be good for him.
But wait! And then Cameron says, "I just wanted to say there's no hard feelings, for kicking my ass and all. You're a pretty okay guy?" We're not sure exactly what Cameron's been smoking - a peace pipe maybe ;)
And then Luke has to agree, "Yeah, you're a pretty cool guy!" Jeremiah isn't sure what's going on. There's not even a keg at this party.
Okay, seriously, WTF??? Is Jeremiah like some golden god or something? This is seriously going to his head!
James returns to the party just long enough for a little lovers spat with Mariah, and before she knows it, he's is leaving. He's so moody! And
he always leaves her parties early. And even though she should be mad, she finds herself feeling surprisingly impartial to it all.
That's nice, James! Way to make your girlfriend feel appreciated - especially when she's already having second thoughts about you!
Mariah doesn't spend much time at all fretting over her boyfriend's early departure. LOL, think these two like each other much?
Yes, it's true, he just comes right out and says it, "Mariah, I'm pretty much crazy about you." She's flattered, for sure. And she's crazy about him too, but she just doesn't know what kind of crazy she feels yet - as baffled by love as she is.
Best friends, score! In less than a week! We're talking soul buddies here, people!
Again, they spend the whole night talking, long after everyone else has gone home, talking and talking, until the sun rises and they can't keep their eyes open anymore...
Report Cards for 2079, Fall
Mariah, junior, philosophy: C+
Luke, junior, drama: A+
Chandler, junior, economics: C+
Stephanie, sophomore, art: B
Justin, sophomore, economics: A+
Keri, freshman, economics: A+
***
notes: AL has some weird new appreciate animations. I've seen something like four different ones, and there's a lot of appreciating going on! In fact, in general, there's a whole lot of affection, and maybe not enough aggression going on in this expansion - I've never had Jeremiah and Cameron in the same room without Jeremiah wanting to beat the snot out of Cameron, lol!
LOL @ Mariah and Micah, the second they met, they instantly wanted to be friends with each other, and the second they were friends, they wanted to be best friends with each other - he's popularity, and she's secondary popularity...
I'm not really sure if they're soul mates or soul buddies. They haven't rolled any romantic wants for each other (though there's an obvious attraction, lol!), but Mariah doesn't roll romantic wants for anyone in particular - not even James. Maybe she's telling me she doesn't want to be so tied down right now.
Micah is 129 ACR, and James is 121 ACR (that's three-bolts for both), so it's a pretty close call...
Wow, your YAs really are having a time of it, aren't they? Sheesh, I wish my YAs would be more interesting... but college tends to get old after awhile, so maybe I rush through it, LOL! I just wish it didn't take so long. x_x
ReplyDeleteAhhh, I wonder who she will end up picking in the end.
Mao, mine are only interesting because they do so little school work, lol! Do you have the college adjuster? I limit their semesters to 48 hours rather than 72, so it goes a little quicker.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it's AL. I have one sim, and all he does is fight with his neighbors all the time. I wish it would stop lol
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mao, your YA's do have fun. :)
I always love your Uni updates. It feels like your chronicling the lives of real college kids! I can always relate your updates to things that went on when I was in college! Very interesting, and I really hope Mariah chooses Micah. I like him much better and think he's better for her and her family!
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else, your uni updates are always so much fun. They make me want to focus a bit more attention on uni instead of trying to get through it so quickly! Poor Mariah, so confused about love. But it seems that James may not be right for her if they keep arguing or just trying to avoid arguing. Poor Luke! That's so unfair that he lost a grade from his sleazy drama professor!
ReplyDeleteriverdale, thanks! I have fun playing them :)
ReplyDeleteMandie, I remember college fondly too! Must be why I have so much fun playing my uni Sims. Maybe I had a little too much fun in college :)
Shana, thanks :) I think that might be the key, not trying to get through it quickly. It doesn't have to be boring - granted though, my neighborhood runs really slow, so I can afford to have them take a LONG time in uni. I'm running about one Sim year in neighborhood time per real life month at the moment - which means that if I keep this up another year, the babies being born now will just be turning teenagers, and I'll have to play another year after that to see any of them finish Uni themselves or get married. I guess it's just a different playstyle, but I also think it's why I can focus on so much detail with them, because I'm aging them so slowly. Micro-Simming, I'll call it ;)
I'm rambling... ;)
And I know, doesn't that suck for Luke? I can't believe they built that into the game! LOL!