This is my first attempt at a Drifter Challenge in Sims 4. I mean to play it casually and use this blog to post pictures and captions. Probably not much of a story, at least not to begin with. Like most of my gameplay, I’ll be playing with Berry Sweet Sims.
The Drifter Challenge is a gameplay challenge for Sims 4 where you re-build Willow Creek and Oasis Springs from the ground up. All in all the goal is to build 24 new houses.
The rules in full can be found here.
Little Cashmere was born almost as soon as Primrose and Champagne got home from Granite Falls. She was a beautiful little baby and Primrose loved her from the moment she saw her.
They bought a bookshelf for Cashmere’s room and Champagne filled it with her own childhood classics. It was a true pleasure to revisit them and she spent a lot of time in their now sofa reading.
Primrose, on the other hand, spent most of winter jogging in their neighborhood. Just as last winter, collecting was way more sparse in winter time because most of the crops froze and went into hibernation.
This winter was easier though, she had a house and a family now.
As she jogged around she thought back on the past year and realized how much had changed in relatively little time. She felt quite content knowing that she was the only one to thank for the progress her life and her lot had made.
When she got back home a lilac woman was sitting by their kitchen table. Primrose had never seen her before but the woman sure seemed to recognize her:
Woman: Hey there Primrose. Nice to see you!
Primrose: Hey there. Who are you?
Woman: I’m Violet and I’ve come from the Founding Drifter’s Association to congratulate you on your new little baby.
Primrose sighed silently and went to change out of her sports clothes before sitting down by the table.
Violet: I just said to Champagne that we’re really proud of how far you’ve come and how you’ve proven that while the change of seasons might make life more complex, it’s doesn’t actually hinder prosperity.
Primrose: Right. But you already suspected that. Tangerine told us years ago, long before I got here.
Violet: True, but we weren’t sure. We wouldn’t need the Drifter project if we were.
Primrose: Right. So what’s the real reason you’re here?
Violet: Well, as I said… To show our appreciation for your hard work. And to welcome Cashmere as the next drifter.
Primrose: She’ll be a drifter as well yea… Does that ever end? Will my future grandchildren or grandgrandchildren ever be free?
Violet: I don’t know. Sometime in the future, I suspect. Just not yet.
Champagne: Never mind my wife’s bitterness. We’re actually glad to help. And for the life we’ve got here. It’s amazing to be part of starting something new!
Violet: As tradition holds, we’ve brought a teddybear for your daughter. I hope it’ll bring her lots of joy.
Cashmere soon became a toddler and was the cutest thing ever. She had the skin of Champagne and the hair and eyes of Primrose.
Primrose enjoyed spending time with her and teaching her the necessary skills such as speaking and walking.
And playing. That was actually what she enjoyed the most: hearing the little girl laugh and giggle when they played together. Oh, she’d do anything for that sound.
Pastel came over shortly after Cashmere’s birthday with a small gift for his niece. Primrose was glad to see him, it hadn’t happened very often since she left Oasis Springs.
Pastel: Seems like you’re doing well here.
Primrose: Now I do. It’s been a rough year though. The first time here was really lonely and hard, but now that I’ve got a family of my own it’s actually quite nice. How’s Oasis Springs?
Pastel: Same old, same old. It’s lonely for sure.
Primrose: Why didn’t you ever marry?
Pastel: I don’t know… I think I kind of thought Orange would move in eventually and when he married over in the colonies it just never happened for me.
Primrose: You actually wanted to get together with Orange?
Pastel: No, not like that. I hoped we would just be livign together as friends you know. But Tangerine didn’t allow it. Said Orange desperately needed to be with someone who’d give her grandchildren. So yeah…
Primrose: It isn’t too late you know. You could find someone if you wanted to.
Pastel: Maybe. We’ll see.
Violet came back when Cashmere had aged up. Primrose was still quite skeptic towards her simply because she was from the Association. She still wasn’t sure this whole generational Drifter thing was the right was to populate the new worlds, but who was she to say?
Violet reminded her that Tangerine, who had been her mother’s contact in the Association, also had become her mother’s friend eventually and Primrose remembered all those days when Tangerine and her son had been to visit them. It hadn’t been all work, it had also been pleasant. It was true.
She decided to give Violet a chance.
Primrose: So, what’s the word in the colonies now?
Violet: There’s still a huge interest in what you’re doing here. It’s a really popular job to get in to the team that gets to research your findings.
Primrose: Will we ever see a new world? Or will it stay like this?
Violet: I hope we’ll get to see a liveable world before too long. I think so.
Before Violet left for the day, she went in to check on Cashmere who was sleeping in her room. It gave her a sense of hope and joy to see the little girl.
The teddy bear she had brought here herself some time ago stood next to the bed and Violet nodded slightly to herself. The bears were important, and it was nice to see that it had gotten a place in the house.
She was glad when she left the family in Waffle Creek. Things were going according to plan. Everything would be alright.
Champagne and Primrose adored their little girl and they both enjoyed the family life they lived now, even though Champagne wished they would eventually expand their family even more. Inhabitating the new worlds would take forever if the Drifter families only had one child. Besides, seeing how perfect their daughter was, it wasn’t more than right they’d try for another one.
Looking from the outside it might not seem like much has happened to the house, but on the inside it now has two bedrooms and some more furniture. It’s definitely a lot of work left – but we’ll get there. At least it’s pretty in its winter shroud.
By summer, Primrose and Champagne had done lots of work on their house. It now had a cute little porch as well as an attached greenhouse on the side. The greenhouse wasn’t functional yet because they still needed to add a few windows in order to make sure the crops got enough sunlight in there. Primrose was really excited however to see what she could eventually do to the space. Until it was functional the crops kept growing outside the house.
Most of Primrose’s income still came from fishing. She had joined the fishing career in order to get a more stable income but she also kept fishing and collecting on her spare time. There were lots of work to be done in order to decorate and expand their house.
Champagne helped out a lot at the house and the crops they grew in their garden were mostly being tended by her. She liked seeing them grow, and she liked the thought of giving Primrose time to do the chores she found more fun – such as fishing and collecting.
Primrose: Isn’t that an unusual sight? Seeing you taking double BLTs.
Champagne: Well you know, I’m eating for two nowadays.
Primrose: Really?!
Champagne was indeed expecting their first child. The Heir. Champagne was thrilled, and Primrose was mostly as well. Though, she knew what it meant to be a drifter, what it was like to not have a choice for yourself. She just didn’t know what premises her own child would have to live by.
Champagne felt no worry, she had known when she signed up as a service sim that her firstborn would possibly be promised away for the Colonies’ cause and it had always been part of her choice. Before this child was whisked away, they would have a number of good years though. Besides, Oasis Springs was liveable. It wasn’t risky like it had been before. It would be alright.
Despite being worried about hoe their coming child would react to its status as Drifter, Primrose was excited to see how Champagne grew and they both enjoyed thinking about what their child would look like.
When Daphne came to visit them a few days later, Primrose took the opportunity to air her own concerns for their coming child.
Daphne: I know you felt like that. But that was your feelings, it’s not certain that this child will feel that way too. Not everyone does. Champagne chose it for herself and so did your mother.
Primrose: I know… But…
Daphne: Besides, the only thing you know about your child is that they will get a plot of land in Oasis Springs. They probably won’t get the same premises as you did yourself. It’ll be okay.
Primrose felt a bit better after Daphne’s visit, but that changed when she got the news that both her parents had passed away. She knew they had been old and had lived a difficult life but you could never be prepared for the day when you lost them.
She cried when she told Champagne.
Champagne felt devastated as well. Eyelet and Daphne had been like her own parents ever since she got together with Daphne. Having made the choice to leave her own family behind she had clung to her new family with a hard grip. Primrose was, obviously, her primary family but having Daphne and Eyelet just a phone call away had felt safe. Now that safety was gone. They were all on their own with their new little one coming.
The two decided to take a trip to Granite Falls to feel better. Granite Falls had been one of the first world’s to be re-populated by the colonies and by now it was mostly a tourist destination. Its lush and green surroundings gave a sense of hope and it wasn’t hard to understand why it had been the Colonies’ first choice.
Especially Primrose had been dreaming of going there. She had a love for the outdoors that pulled at her and she felt blessed to get the chance to visit the place. Even if the circumstances could have been better.
Primrose: Maybe we could take a hike tomorrow? There’s supposed to be this really beautiful mountain lake!
Champagne: Prim honey, I’m in third trimester… I won’t be hiking much. But you should go! We can split up, we’re always together usually.
Primrose: Are you sure? I really want to see as much as I can while we’re here.
Champagne: And you should! I’m actually quite looking forward just the peace and quiet. Okay?
Primrose decided to believe Champagne when she said it was okay for her to stay around the house all by herself while Prim enjoyed the nature. First stop: local fishing.
Next stop: Picking unidentified flowers and fruits. She was so excited to learn more about the wildlife in Granite Falls. It sure was a lot different to what she had seen back home in Oasis Springs and Waffle Creek.
Champagne loved the peace and quiet in Granite Falls. Not that life in Waffle Creek was very hectic, but there was the constant need of doing things. Gathering, weeding, watering, fishing. Just being still, enjoying what was around was rare. And nice.
Champagne: You little one in there, I can’t wait to meet you. Whoever you are, you’ll be so so loved. Who are you?
During their third day day in Granite Falls Champagne went into labour. Primrose panicked and they realized they had to cancel their vacation and go back home to welcome their child. The next drifter.
Author’s Note: I decided to start working on Primrose’s Outdoor Enthusiast Ambition before the heir was born because it’llbe quite challenging to finish I think. Even though their trip got shorter than I had planner for she managed to complete the first milestone. The good thing about the second milestone is that she can work on it from home.
Also, I just realized I’ve been making the challenge harder for myself by deducting 1000 Simoleoans whenever the Drifter travels outside their area. Now that I’ve started doing it that way I’ll keep it.
Next update you’ll get to meet the heir! 😀
Champagne applies for a job as a Service Sim as soon as she sees the picture of Primrose, the Drifter that will start the new world “Waffle Creek”. Being a service sim isn’t easy, it means she has to leave her life in the Colonies in hope that Primrose will choose her as her spouse. If not, Champagne will be forever lost in-between the two worlds – not belonging anywhere. It’s a risk she’s willing to take and luckily it pays off and she becomes part of starting off the new world.
Traits: Mean, Neat, Romantic, Animal Affection
Aspiration: Friend of the Animals
Mail Carrier: Oh my, it’s you! You’re here!
Primrose: Hey.
Primrose looked at the gasping woman in front of her. She had pretty eyes and delicate fingers that were currently covering her surprised mouth.
Mail Carrier: I’ve been hoping to run into you for months but you’re never here.
Primrose sighed to herself. If these service sims just knew how much work it was to start from scratch? Of course, she couldn’t be hanging around her house all day waiting for them to show up.
Although, being honest to herself about the tingle in her stomach by the pure sight of the woman who delivered her mail, she kind of wished she had.
Primrose: I guess you already know, but I’m Primrose. Nice to meet you, mail carrier.
Mail Carrier: Champagne. Unless you really want to call me by my profession?
Primrose: Okay then, nice to meet you, Champagne.
Primrose saw no reason to waste any more time. Champagne was definitely the prettiest out of the three service sims she had met so far, and time was ticking, so she put on her flirtiest self when she asked Champagne to stay for a chat.
They hung out for a few hours that day, and when it was time for Champagne to leave Primrose blew her a kiss.
She hoped that Champagne would be the one. It had been a great day.
Days passed and Primrose kept collecting, selling, and spending her money on improvements to her house and plot of land. When she wasn’t working, she spent time with Champagne.
By the time her house had four walls and a roof she and Champagne had become friends and Primrose thought they might be on a good way towards something else as well. She was falling for sure, she just wasn’t sure if Champagne felt the same.
Primrose: I think I’m falling for you.
Champagne: Falling?
Primrose: You know, I’m having feelings for you.
Champagne: Prim, I know how this Drifter deal is. You don’t have to pretend you’re getting feelings. I signed up for this, I’m definitely in no matter of feelings.
Primrose wanted to disappear. She hated this whole Drifter thing. How was she supposed to ever be happy in a life where she had nothing to decide for herself? And how could she get Champagne to understand that there was a reason she was choosing her among all the service sims available?
Primrose: It’s not just that! Sure, it’s a fudging horrible life being forced in to this, but if you think I don’t actually like you, you’re stupid.
Champagne: You never had a choice. You never had a say in what service sims they sent down here. Right? You’re forced to start liking one of us. I get that. But if you’re telling me you’re actually getting feelings for me just to make sure I’ll choose you, you can stop. We don’t need to pretend. You choose the better out of what’s possible. I never did that. I chose you as soon as I saw your face in the application. You were the reason I left the colonies. You!
Primrose looked silently at Champagne and wondered if she could ever get her to believe the feelings she felt. She sat down on her camping bed and sighed:
Primrose: Will you ever be able to trust me on my feelings? Or will you always doubt? Can we ever be in love for real?
Champagne: I don’t know Prim. I know what I signed up for, but I’m not sure real feelings have a place in that. Do you? Really?
Primrose: I know what I feel. Being with you is the first time I’ve been truly happy since I got here. That means something. It has to do.
Champagne: Okay.
Primrose: I’ll prove it to you. If you let me?
By the time summer came, Primrose’s house was starting to look rather decent. It had a cute little porch out on the front with a stone path leading up to it from the big road. Outside the porch Primrose’s garden grew and provided her with both food and income.
Besides, the weeks that had passed between her first try at telling Champagne about her feelings and her consistency in doing just that had lead to Champagne actually starting to trust her words.
Maybe it was that Waffle Creak looked prettier in the summer sun, or perhaps it was her stubbornness, but Champagne sure was warming up. Primrose thought they were a couple by now, but she wasn’t sure if Champagne trusted her feelings yet.
What she was sure of, however, was that Champagne was the right choice for her. She liked her a lot. Enough to think that she was actually in love, for real.
When she placed her lips on Champagne’s for the first time, she became absolutely certain. She was in love. Nothing but real love could cause the inferno of emotions inside her as their lips met.
Champagne: Okay Primrose, I think I believe you now.
Primrose: Will you be my spouse? Will you help me populate Waffle Creek?
Champagne looked at the ring in her hand. Could this really be? It had been a chance to sign up as a service sim for the new world, but it surely seemed like it had payed off.
It wasn’t just a ring, it was her ticket to Waffle Creek and a life outside the Colonies and outside the limbo she had been living in for the past time.
Champagne: Yes! I’ll be your spouse! I’ll marry you!
They had their wedding straight away, just the two of them in their small and sparsely decorated kitchen. Far from romantic, but the Drifter life wasn’t supposed to be romantic anyway. At least they were happy.
Author’s Note: Long time no see! I finally got some time to play today, which hasn’t happened since early summer I think. It was great fun to see my dear sims again.
Champagne has moved in, meaning we’ve passed one of the goals for the generation. When it comes to the house it has one bedroom and one bathroom at the moment. The rooms are barely decorated though and only has the absolute minimum of furniture.
I hope I’ll be able to get more playtime in soon again. 🙂
In the middle of winter there was suddenly a day warm enough to melt the ice on the river and Primrose took the rare opportunity to fish. She really, really needed to earn enough to get herself a shower now so she was thankful for this warmer winter day.
She wasn’t used to fishing and there was obviously no one around to teach her, but after a few hours she had caught a couple of minnows and a catfish. All in all, it actually got her enough money to get that shower she so desperately needed.
Her mothers called her almost every day and speaking to them made her feel less lonely in her new world.
By the time spring came, her little plot of land contained a toilet, a shower, a bed, a small garden and a few half-melted snowmen whom she had kept as company throughout the winter.
With spring melting the ices for the year Primrose spent more of her days fishing. It meant less running around for collectibles and less risk of missing the service people whenever they got around. She knew one of her biggest goals was to find a partner, and she realized that her drifter life would be easier with company around. Less lonely.
Since most of her time had been spent walking around the little road close to her lot, she had missed the mailman ever time they came with her payments and refined minerals. In fact, she hadn’t met any of the service people except Rowan yet and their first meeting hadn’t exactly got her in the mood for flirting.
He came round now and then though and kept her company. Sometimes they just stood quiet fishing next to each other and other times he accompanied her while she gathered her collectibles for the day.
He wasn’t as bad as he had first seemed. She had to admit that.
Primrose: What’s your deal really? Like did you get to choose to be a new world service man?
Rowan: We got to sign up, yeah.
Primrose: And what does it mean for you, having been chosen?
Rowan: That I get to come here. That was what really got me into it, curiosity. You hear so much about the new world and I really wanted to see for myself.
Primrose: You hear so much? What do you hear?
Rowan: That it’s a risk, of course. But also that the new world will save us. Honestly, this place isn’t as good as they let us think back in the colonies. It isn’t exactly paradise…
Primrose: It’s okay. So why is this thing hard for you?
Rowan: Uhm… Because we’re kind of in the middle now. We don’t belong in any of the worlds. Can’t move here unless you want us to, and we can’t go back because of the risk of bringing back whatever plague that destroyed the old world.
Primrose: So I’m basically your only hope of ever having a real life again? Outside of whatever limbo you’re in now?
Rowan: I guess so, yeah.
—
Primrose: Can you imagine they put all those service people in some sick limbo and unless I choose them, they’re stuck there. In between the two worlds.
Eyelet: Sounds like something the colonies would do, yeah.
Primrose: But why would anyone risk that?
Eyelet: I risked my life to get down here. Right? Life in the colonies isn’t that fun.
Primrose: But you got a life. Like me! These people are just waiting there.
Eyelet: Yeah. But maybe they think that’s better still? Or maybe this Rowan-guy isn’t telling you the whole truth?
Primrose had a bad feeling about it all. Mixed with the constant hunger that came from only eating raw foods directly from the ground it made her stomach hurt.
What was the deal with these service people?
Spring soon chased every trace of winter away and Waffle Creek became a lot more colorful and vivid. Primrose thought the world was beautiful, and a lot different compared to Oasis Springs which she was used to. It was so lush.
Her own garden thrived and she was porud to pick the berries she had worked so hard to grow. She felt happy and content now that she had both a fridge, a counter and her own vegetables and berries to prepare into actual meals.
Speaking of kitchen appliances, the fridge broke down at the first rainy day after she had brought it home. Stupid electronics!
She considered trying to fix it by herself to save her money, but when she saw the number to the repair service that the colonies had programmed her phone with she decided to call for help.
The repair woman came quickly after she had called. No wonder since all the service people did was sit and wait for her to be in need of their services.
Primrose looked at the repair woman. She had a happy look on her face, a little twinkle in her eyes and her hair looked so smooth over her shoulders. Primrose felt a small tingle in her belly.
Primrose: Hey there!
Woman: Hi! I’m Apricot and I’m so so glad to finally meet you!
Before Apricot started fixing the fridge they sat down on Primrose’s bed to get to know each other a bit. Primrose realized instantly that Apricot was a lot different compared to Rowan. There was no desperation in her, she didn’t demand attention and gratefulness the way Rowan had on their first meeting.
This meeting felt a lot better.
The sun had started to set before Apricot even started working on the fridge and Primrose thought to herself that if the service people had strategies for how to be chosen, Apricot had definitely chosen the better one. Or perhaps it was just who she was – friendly, positive and funny. And good-looking.
It was winter when Primrose got to Waffle Creek and her new plot of land. Things suddenly felt unreal and scary. Where does one start when you’ve got nothing?
She remembered her mother’s words: Look for collectibles and seeds to begin with. Easier said than done in winter-time, she thought to herself. What harvestables could she find in the snow?
Speaking of snow… Primrose had never seen snow before. They had winters in Oasis Springs, but it never got cold enough for snow. Primrose couldn’t resist plopping down in to the snow to make a snow angel. Some of the books they had read in school had taken place in the old world – and in some of them the children played in the snow. She had always wanted to try.
When she got up again she realized it had probably been a dumb idea to get her clothes wet before the night when she had nowhere to warm herself up. Could you die of cold if you slept outside in the winter? she wondered.
A small distance from her new plot of land was something that looked like an old community garden. Most of the crops were hidden under the snow but from one of the planters a tree stretched towards the sky with naked branches. Primrose sent a picture of the tree to her mothers, wanting to know if it was possibly a tree that would eventually bring her fruit.
Primrose: Arrived safely. It’s cold and snowy. I found this tree, you know what it is?
Eyelet: Glad to hear you made it there safely. That’s an apple tree. Hope spring comes soon. Remember to look for minerals and frogs. The colonies pay you quite well for whatever you send them. At least in my time.
Primrose: Right. Good night!
Listening to her mother’s advice Primrose headed out to look for frogs and minerals. It felt surreal having no money and no home. She had never missed anything growing up in Oasis Springs and when she stretched in to the two hollow tree stumps she found close by, she missed her old home greatly. The frogs were slimy in her hands when she pulled them from their homes.
Primrose (whispering): I’m sorry. I know how it feels, I got pulled from the safety of my home too.
Digging for minerals was easier, and it paid better. Though there wasn’t many digging spots from what she could see. After her first scouting evening she had gathered about 150 simoleoans which wasn’t really enough for anything. But it was a start.
Primrose made her way back to the little community garden and laid down on the bench. It was cold and hard and she froze. Her body shook and she wasn’t sure she would even be able to fall asleep. Though, it had been a long journey from Oasis Springs and she was exhausted so eventually she fell in to an uneasy sleep.
She figured this might be where she spent quite a few of her nights now to begin with.
The next morning she was starving and decided to check her phone. Tangerine had promised that the colonies would program her phone with numbers to the new services available to her. Pizza. Primrose had never had pizza before, her mothers thought it was a waste of money when they could cook their own food. To Primrose, however, it was far from a waste of money – it was the only way for her to get food at all at the moment. Besides, one of the few ways for her to get a partner.
While waiting for the pizza Primrose headed out to dig through the few digging spots she had found in her area. When she came back the pizza had been placed on the ground close to her mailbox. It smelled delicious. It was delicious!
Man: There you are! You really should be home to receive your deliveries. And pay for them!
Primrose: I was just round the corner…
Man: How should I know? I can’t get back without payment, they’d fire me instantly!
Primrose: Sorry… Here’s your 25.
Man: ‘Here’s your 25’? No ‘Thank you for bringing me my food’? You’re quite self-absorbed for a drifter.
Primrose: Woah, what’s your problem?
Man: My problem is you’re a self-absorbed little brat. And they’d think I want to get with you?!
Primrose curled her hands in to fists. What had she done to deserve this treatment? If this was the kind of people the colonies had thought about sending her way her life was really about to become just harder.
Primrose: And you’d think I would want to get with a grumpy man like yourself. Thanks but no thanks!
Man: Good.
The man stuffed the 25 simoleoans in his pocket and turned around to leave. He got a few steps before he stopped and turned back around.
Man: Look. I’m sorry. Okay. It’s just… This is harder than I imagined.
Primrose: You tell me!
Man: You’re the centre of attention. You know you’ll get to stay here. I’m bound to you, my fate is yours to decide.
Primrose: Huh? You’re the pizza guy here, that must mean you get to stay?
Man (snorting): Hah, right! No. Unless you choose me, I’m stuck in the colonies. We all are. The only point of our lives right now is to possibly get with you. We’re no worth of our own.
Primrose: And you thought the best way was to be rude to me. Great choice man.
Man: Rowan. Call me Rowan.
Primrose: Alright Rowan. I suggest you switch strategy if you want me to get interested in you.
When Rowan had left and Primrose finished her pizza she decided to build a snowman while contemplating the meeting with Rowan, the pizza guy. Why had he been so rude? What was their deal? What influence did the colonies really have over their people? How bad was life at the colonies if berries would risk their whole future for a chance to live here, with her, in the new world?
The snowman she built almost felt like company. She spoke to it from time to time, complaining about the cold and the hardships she was facing. It was really, really difficult to earn simoleoans when most crops were in hibernation and the river was frozen. It has been several days and she still had only been able to afford a toilet on her lot. And the potatoes she planned to plant laid unplanted on the ground, waiting for the ground to warm up enough for it to be possible to dig and plant in.
All this wait. Was this meant to be her life now?
Primrose kept spending her days with catching frogs and gathering minerals. By day five she had run out of instant hygien potions and was really starting to feel both unfresh and cold. Hopefully spring would be here soon, and hopefully she could soon afford a shower for her lot.
Being born as the first child of Eyelet and Daphne, Primrose is promised as the first Drifter of Waffle Creek. As soon as she turns 18, she is shipped off to a completely empty town with the mission to checking out its liveability and starting up a new world.
Unlike her mother, Primrose never chose to be a Drifter. She’s not quite sure what to think about her mission, but at least it’s an adventure.
Primrose’s traits: Slob, Jealous, Music-Lover
Aspiration: Outdoor Enthusiast
Not much has happened to the world’s yet. There’s House 001 built in Oasis Springs where Eyelet, Daphne and Pastel still lives and the Mexican Restaurant in the city remains untouched.
Willow Creek is completely empty still. But that’s about to change, of course.
Being neat while living with two slobs who constantly leaves their dirty dishes all around the house really is quite a hard job. Pastel handles it though, because he knows the rest of the family doesn’t see it like he does. Though, of course, it annoys him that they don’t just put their plates away right after eating.
Usually, cleaning the dishes is the first thing he does in the morning and the last thing he does before going to bed in the evening. Poor little kid.
—
Daphne: I can’t believe you’re growing up so fast!
Pastel: Ah mom, stop it already!
Daphne: You’ll always be my little baby!
Pastel: Can I blow the candles now?
Daphne: We’re waiting for the guests.
Pastel: Okay then…
“The guests” meant Tangerine and Orange. Tangerine had forgot to mention that she was expecting again so when she came over, ready to pop any second they were all a bit dazzled.
Eyelet glanced over at Daphne with a smile. They had been contemplating another child for a while, and maybe this was the sign they had been looking for.
Eyelet was definitely getting older – her birthday towards old age creeping closer – but Daphne still had a few good years and she’d be the one to carry the child if they decided on trying for one.
Tangerine: Happy birthday!
Tangerine blew the party horn as loud as she could in celebration of the young man she still hoped to get as her son in law.
Pastel blew the candles with a laugh. He found it silly that Tangerine still kept that dream so obviously alive after all these years. Sure, he and Orange has become good friends, but marrying someone just for the sake of giving his family a place in the new world? There were surely better reasons to for choosing your life partner.
Pastel spent a lot of time on the computer, either chatting to Orange or writing up blog posts about life in the new world. Back in the colonies there were a lot of interested berries who eagerly read everything he posted.
His biggest problem was coming up with content. Most days were just… normal. Not much actually happened in his life. School, dinner with family. Sometimes a walk. He didn’t quite understand how that could be fun to read.
—
Three days before Primrose’s birthday Tangerine came back to visit. It was a beautiful, warm day and Eyelet and Tangerine sat down in the shadow of the parasol on the front.
Tangerine: It’s so exciting to think that another new world is starting up soon!
Eyelet: Actually, I find it a bit heartbreaking as well. My little girl.
Tangerine: Right. Of course. But you knew…
Eyelet: … What I signed up for. Yes. But still… What if Waffle Creek isn’t actually liveable? What if I’m sending my girl to her death?
Tangerine: You won’t. Oasis Springs were the big risk. We’re more sure when it comes to Waffle Creek. The only risk is the changing of the seasons over there. We’re not quite sure how big the impact of the seasons actually is to the living. Make sure she brings warm clothes.
Eyelet: Right… But wait, so I was sent towards my possible death here?
Tangerine: Yeah, I guess.
Eyelet: Wow… What an opportunity!
Tangerine: Anyways… I just wanted to remind you of the arrangements and fulfillments that Primrose will have to expect once she settles in Waffle Creek.
Eyelet: I’m all ears.
—
Eyelet: We have to talk. Let’s sit down.
Primrose: Okay.
Primrose: What’s up?
Eyelet: Uhm… Apparantly there’s one more thing to your drifter mission that I kind of forgot…
Primrose: Another thing?
Eyelet: Yeah… So apparantly they’re going to send down some people from the colonies who’ll have some actual service jobs. Like, you’ll have access to mail delivery services, gardening, housekeeping and even pizza deliveries!
Primrose: Really?
Eyelet: There’s a catch though… You’ll have to choose one of these people to be your spouse.
Primrose: What?! I’ll be forced in to a relationship with someone I might not even like?
Eyelet: I’m sure it won’t be too bad… I mean, it’s not like we meet that many people anyway so your choices would be limited no matter what. Maybe this even gets you a wider pool to choose from, right?
Primrose: *mutters* Maybe…
Eyelet: I know it sounds hard, and I’m not gonna lie – it is hard. But also so rewarding! Life in the new world is so much more exciting than it ever was on the colonies.
Primrose: You know what mom? I’m actually quite excited even if I don’t sound it. But I hope they decide to send decent people for me to choose from.
—
Before it was time for Primrose’s birthday, Eyelet celebrated her birthday towards old age. She felt so content with what she had accomplished as a drifter that she didn’t mind moving on to her golden days even the slightest.
She still had the loveliest partner and some wrinkles and grey hair wouldn’t change that.
Their love was eternal.
—
Primrose had mixed feelings when blowing the candles of her cake. She was leaving not only her teen years behind, but also all the safety and comfort of her childhood home. She was heading towards untouched land with a big responsibility resting on her shoulders. People depended on her. And she would have to depend on herself too. It was scary and exciting at the same time.
She had asked her mothers for some starting money but had been turned down. She got to bring only the teddy bear and the child violin that the Founding Drifter Association had given her for her previous birthdays. Not that she understood what good that would do in a completely empty world. At least it was memories.
Author’s Note: That marks the end of House 001!
Agave Abode. Worth 34.425 Simoleoans. 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom.
It’s Pastel’s birthday and Eyelet baked a burned cake. Happy days!
Pastel aged up beautifully and gained the Erratic trait and the Whiz Kid Aspiration.
Literally the only three things Daphne are doing around the house is eating, sleeping and interacting with the kids. She’s grown quite a lot since she first moved in.
Eyelet: Can you believe Primrose will soon be a teen?
Daphne: Time flies!
Eyelet: Sure does! I can’t believe this lot was completely empty when I got here. I have the right to be proud, don’t I?
Daphne: You sure do love!
Here’s another birthday, becoming a teenager!
Primrose gained the Jealous trait and (of course) the Outdoor Enthusiast aspiration since that’s what we’re working with in House 002.
Eyelet has started using the boxing dummy on the front simply because I want her to skill up enough to be able to train the rest of the family.
It took quite some time, but Tangerine finally brought her son home to the Rainbow house to introduce little Orange to Pastel. Eyelet and Daphne had been strict with saying no to arranging the future for their son but it couldn’t hurt to have friends, right?
Tangerine still hoped they would fall for each other though.
Pastel: Mom told me your mom wants us to marry and that’s why you’re here.
Orange: You’re only trying to psyche me!
Pastel: Am not.
Orange: Marry? She thinks I’m in to boys?
Pastel: Would that be so bad?
Orange: It’s strange.
Pastel: You know I have two mothers, right?
Orange: … Honestly, I’m not in to girls either.
Orange: On the other hand… Life here seems way cooler than in the colonies! I could live here, with you, if we did marry!
Pastel: So it’s not so strange then?
Orange: I dunno. Love is strange. I’ll think about that later.
Pastel and Orange had a decent time together, but calling it love at first sight would definitely be a stretch. When Tangerine and Orange had left, Pastel headed out to the monkey bars and if you asked him, that thing was just as good – possibly better – than his chess game with Orange had been. Marrying him seemed really far off.
Pastel: Did you know that woman wants me to marry her son? Like she could decide that?
Primrose: You think that’s bad? Have you heard about my future!?
Pastel: But that sounds fun!
Primrose: Right…
Pastel: It does! It’s just like what mom did. I think that’s cool.
Primrose: If you could choose for yourself maybe…
Pastel: Wanna switch? I’ll go to Waffle Creek and you marry Orange?
Primrose: Well… When you put it that way… I think I’m good.
Tangerine and Orange came over again for Harvestfest. Eyelet cooked a dinner consisting purely of ingredients she gathered herself. It was quite a big thing for them all to feast on food from the new world. If that wasn’t a big step, then what would ever be?
Orange turned out to be quite the joker and put a smile on everyone’s lips throughout the evening.
Tangerine: See, they get along really well!
Eyelet: They’re kids. That is what friendship looks like. We’re not forcing them in to anything, okay?
Tangerine: Okay okay, I’m just saying they seem to like hanging out!
After the Harvestfest Pastel went in to a phase where he demanded to be called Bearcado and he wouldn’t get out of the green bear costume he somehow had got his hands on.
Eyelet and Daphne hoped the phase wouldn’t last too long because the house was crowded enough without a fluffy bear trying to fit in. Besides, the roars grew old quickly.
Author’s Note: This is what the house looks like now that it’s done. There won’t be any more changes or additions to the house’s front. It’s now worth 32k so the goal of 30k is reached and now we’re just waiting for Primrose to age in to YA.
The Rainbow Drifter Challenge 