“Bohemian Rhapsody”
Warnings: toilet surfing, screaming babies, intrepid sleuthing, evil enemies, soda-less woohoo, aggressive art, and blackmail
Previously on The Oceanside Project: [Spring 01] [Summer 01] [Fall 01]
Sunday, Day 14
“60% Of The Time, It Works Every Time”
A pre-dawn glow surrounds the tranquil, picturesque Troubadour-Healey home.
Matisse: *FAAAARRRTTTSSSS*
Oh Lord, let’s try this again…
Matisse Troubadour — our ~elegant~ resident artist and photographer for the town’s newspaper, Oceanside Today — is on early morning diaper duty.
The newest member of the family, baby Skye finally gets to sleep in her own room for the first time. Matisse’s inspiration for the room comes from the Sunday comic strip she draws for the newspaper. The Adventures of Will & Rod, a comic about a young boy and his stuffed bunny, is very popular with her fellow Oceansidians.
As Skye falls asleep…
Matisse continues working on her latest masterpiece. She’s so close to maxing her Arts & Crafts skill. She can’t wait for the day when she can become a full-time artist and not have to listen to her co-worker Beckett Graham complain about her friend’s businesses.
With the recent rash of trashcan vandalism going around, Matisse’s Significant Other thought it was best to build a fence with a lockable gate around theirs. She doesn’t know why. Everyone loves Matisse. Who would want to knock over their trash?
Oldest child Cyan is also up working on her masterpiece.
Her more expressive pieces are on display in the second floor hallway.
After drawing Cyan turns to her second favorite pastime… 🙄
Matisse, MATISSE! What is this? This isn’t Becca in Green on Pink!
Matisse: This piece deals with the preposterous notion of sims having to put themselves into years of debt in order to follow some antiquated ideal of having a better — quote, unquote — life than everysim else. I call it “Condo on the Beach.”
Bitchin’…
After spending the morning in the poo water…
Cyan knocks out on her sister’s floor.
As dawn breaks Kent Healey, pottery enthusiast and Matisse’s baby daddy, rises to the earsplitting cries of his baby girl.
Skye: *Wails*
Cyan: This thing is ruining my beauty sleep!
Good Girl!
*in case you forgot that The Chosen One was the first toddler to be potty trained*
As Dad changes the little screamer…
Cyan finds a nice, soft place to lay in her own room.
Condo on the Beach is done. It looks just like the real thing *snickers*
Cyan’s room is the perfect place to hang her second masterpiece.
As Kent freshens up…
Matisse warms up burnt shrimp gumbo leftovers for breakfast.
During breakfast Kent brings up how worried he is about Matisse running around taking photos for the paper. With all of the trashcan terrorism and the still-at-large Oceanside Cat Burglar, Kent is afraid something might happen to his lady.
Matisse tries to lessen Kent’s fears by reassuring him that she’s being safe. She would, however, love to get a photo of the Oceanside Cat Burglar. That would be the ultimate scoop! Maybe Kent has an idea who she is since he lived in the caves with all of the other NPCs?
Kent: The caves are filled with so much fog it’s difficult to see any other sims in there.
Mattisse: 😕
After dodging that bullet, Kent dons more Winter-type apparel…
and heads to his pottery shop, Healey Potter.
He changes again, this time into his painter coveralls, and opens for the day.
Kent gets to work on crafting the items he needs to restock the store. Healey Potter is booming! Kent is so happy to see his neighbors enjoying his crafts.
The first customer of the day is Natural Scientist Yasmin Onnen. Yaz is always looking for unique items for her eclectic home.
Yep, that gecko will work nicely.
Next is Police Cadet Sadie Biltmore. Hey Sadie, looking for some pottery for your house?
Sadie: I’m here to check out Kent Healey’s “business.” I know he’s really using this shop as a front for his illegal bubble juice pushing! I’m going to catch him red-handed!
Uh-huh.
Tagging not far behind is driver and Second Life shop owner Noelee Andrews. Really she’s just here to fawn over her girlfriend.
Sadie heads outside to investigate further.
Sadie: Is this where you’re hiding the drugs? Ah-ha — oh wait, there’s just potting soil in here.
Noelee finds a nice plate and she’s ready to be rung up.
Taking a short break from the pottery wheel, Kent schmoozes with the customers.
Kent: All of my pottery is hand-made from Oceansidian clay dug up by yours truly. My sustainable artisan pottery will hold up for thousands of years!
Kent: Is there anything I can help you find, Officer Biltmore?
Sadie: Yeah, I was looking for something that you blow that elevates your body? *Wink, wink* It gives you the giggles, yaknowwhatI’msaying?
Kent: I sure do. You should get your own pottery wheel! Whenever I’m down it lifts me right back up! Have a great day Sadie!
Kent: *hums a tune*
He’s so adorably clueless.
Kent continues smiling…
and crafting the remainder of the day.
Sadie: Maybe I was wrong about Kent Healey. But if he’s not the bubble juice kingpin then who is?
Just then a chill came into the air…
Rocky Kotsomiti, head of the Garden Club, enters the shop and Kent becomes visibly upset. His whole demeanor changes in a blink of the eye.
Sadie curiously watches the behavior of the two sims. Why is Kent so upset with Rocky? He’s just a gardener, Sadie thought.
Repairman Abbot Moulding takes a break from fixing breaks to peruse a waterfall contraption of pots. Such mechanical mastery, thinks Abbot.
Kent doesn’t let the fact that the sim that is trying to wack him is in his shop. Kent knows he’s only trying to intimidate him. Rocky definitely wouldn’t do anything crazy with Officer Sadie in the room.
If Sadie ever found out that Rocky and his Garden Club were just fronts for the biggest (and only) bubble juice drug ring in Oceanside things could get ugly. Sadie and her family would be in grave danger.
Kent would never want anything to happen to the fine sims he’s met and have grown to love in this town. So he keeps his mouth shut — he’s no snitch after all — but Rocky doesn’t know that…
Kent has leverage and he knows it.
Maybe it’s time to make a deal…
Sadie: *thinks* Those two are some odd ducks. I better add this to my dossier back at the station.
Sadie vows to keep an eye on Kent and Rocky. She’s got a bad feeling about those two.
Kent closes shop…
and Rocky leaves without making a fuss.
After earning another star from a waiting-to-be-rung-up Abbot, Healey Potter goes to Rank 1!
Kent chooses Notable Reputation. His word is his bond.
Kent: I can’t believe that jerk had the nerve to walk into my shop! Does he think he scares me? I’ll show him, big jerk-face, oily haired, pumpkin head!
Abbot: 😒
Abbot: Good day, good sir. Uh, sorry about your pumpkin-headed friend. Cheerio!
A little restocking…
then it’s time to go home.
*************************************************************************************************************************
Back at home…
Cyan finally got that beauty sleep she wanted so badly.
Cyan: I woke up like this.
Matisse spies her bestie, Treasurer and First Lady Vivian Landgraab, waddling by…
and greets her with a warm hug.
Matisse immediately starts talking to Viv’s very flat, but still very pregnant, belly
Matisse: *in baby talk* How’s the little baby? You’re a special baby, huh, cause you got Mommy that Nanny she’s been wanting.
Vivian: Damn straight! *giggles*
Matisse: *whispers* Red Alert! Self-rightous preacher lady at 12 o’clock.
Vivian: *whispers back* Ugh, I know. She’s so annoying.
Becca Goodacre: *thinks* The Watcher says, Thou shall not hate other sims, but those two really burn my blood! *sigh* I’m not being a good Peteran…
STOP BEING SUCH A DRAMA QUEEN CYAN! YOU’RE NOT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD!
Seriously, she’s the only toddler I’ve ever had this notice for. She’s a Popularity sim in the making.
After Vivian regales Matisse with stories of her wild days at University…
Matisse heads over to Her Majesty for play time…
and cuddles.
Matisse is amazed by her little bundle of love. With everything that happened to her friend Minka and her kids, Matisse is glad that her two girls are well taken care of and watched like a hawk. Well, maybe not “watched like a hawk” all of the time…
Matisse: *sniffs* Have you been in the toilet water again, Missy?
All better!
Viv is a great Auntie. She just adores Cyan! She’s so happy that Cyan and her daughter Gwyneth are BFFs just like her and Matisse are.
Matisse makes lunch meat sandwiches but starts to feel really tired.
Vivian agrees to watch the girls while Matisse naps.
Cyan: *BARFS*
Vivian: Where is my Nanny when I need her!
Skye: *Wails*
Cyan: Seriously dude, what is your damage!
Matisse’s bionic ears hear the baby’s cries.
Thinking again on Minka’s predicament, Matisse is enraged. How could she not take care of her kids? These little lives depend on so much — how can she be so careless? And then that lavish wedding she threw! It was like she was celebrating not having them around anymore! How tacky. Matisse wasn’t sure how their friendship could be the same after all of this.
After putting Skye down for the night…
Matisse returns to her easel. This is where she can unleash all of her frustrations — on the canvas.
Kent returns home frustrated as well.
HOLY NAKED PIXELS, BATMAN! Sheesh, that was fast!
Matisse and Kent were so busy trying to get busy they forgot to put soda in the woohoo…
Monday, Day 15
“Scream Queen”
Cyan begins her early morning fishing expedition…
then passes out on the floor.
Skye patiently waits for the perfect moment to wake up the house.
Wait for it…
waaaiiit for iiiiitttt…
Now!
Skye: *screams bloody murder*
Naked Parents: W-what? We’re up!
Kent makes do with what he can find in the fridge and prepares fruit parfait for breakfast.
Matisse however might not be in the mood for food.
Nevermind. Matisse shovels down the fruit parfait like it was her last meal.
They’re perfect for each other…
After Matisse leaves Kent goes about his house-husbandly duties…
feeding the Banshee…
washing the Toilet Surfer…
and paying the taxes.
dsjkldsjkjasdjfdsjfkaj!!!
Next on his “honey-do” list is the malfunctioning bathtub in the master bath. This doesn’t look so hard.
Maybe we’ll just call Abbot…
Cyan breaks away from the toilet long enough to work on her coloring.
Kent eventually fixes the leak. Now it’s clean-up time.
Kent is still smarting from losing the fight with Rocky. So how do we deal with aggression and angst in this household?…
with art!
Kent still has a lot of pieces he needs to create in order to restock Healey Potter. Let’s get cracking!
Poor Matisse spends most of her evening after work in the toilet.
Inspired by Kent’s marathon pottery session, Matisse works on another painting.
Kent takes a break to wrestle with the scream queen…
Skye: You people FINALLY got the hint!
Skye: *snores*
Ooooh, I can’t wait to see what Toddler Skye looks like 😄
Kent leaves his pottery wheel for a little while to run errands before it gets too late.
His first stop is Baked Bakery and Cakery to find the perfect birthday cake for his perfect little girl.
While he’s here, Kent thinks, he might as well take a photo in the photo booth. Those things seem like a lot of fun.
As soon as he walks in Kent is hit with all of the yummy sweet smells.
Kent loves his photos.
Kent: We should totally get one of these machines at the house. It would be a riot!
Vivian’s husband, politician Malcolm Landgraab, is having a hard time deciding which desert to take home.
Noelee approves of the gluten-free options.
Social Worker Felicity Wayward: This. Is. The Greatest Shop. EVER!
Baked’s owner Paragon Barrett is happy to see his buddy Kent there.
Paragon: Don’t forget to invite me to the party!
Kent: No doubt!
Kent’s last stop is Goodacre’s Grocery Store to restock the fridge.
************************************************************************************************************************
At home it’s begun to rain.
Matisse is back to her original painting, Becca in Green on Pink.
Matisse: Um, it’s a classic.
Uh-huh
Cyan is torturing Mrs. Crumplebear.
Cyan: Die, die, DIE!
She soon grows bored of stuffed bear brutality and plays with her xylophone.
Goody. Becca 5.0? I lost count now.
Time to take a break and grab some dinner.
After paying so much simoleons for taxes and groceries, Kent carefully broaches the subject of where all of their money goes. With what he makes at Healey Potter and what Matisse makes at the paper, they should have more in the bank.
Matisse: Well, you forget we have to pay §100 a day for rent. Malcolm Landgraab technically still owns this house.
There’s gotta be some way out of that, thinks Kent. They shouldn’t be paying rent to the richest sim in Oceanside. Especially now that they have another baby on the way.
Kent may be very granola now, but he was born a hustler. He’ll figure out a way to own their house out-right.
*Missed Pop #1*
Tuesday, Day 16
“Go ‘Head, It’s Your Birthday”
Skye: *SHRIEKS*
Kent volunteers to feed and change Skye…
then it’s back to bed for cuddle time.
Cyan: Mrs. Cwumplebear, I’m sorry I hit you. I was really angry at that baby thing. Do you think we can sell her to the Orphanage?
Matisse wakes up — although she hasn’t really been able to stay asleep. She always feels anxious during her pregnancies.
She worries that she’s not eating the right things or taking care of herself the way she should. She would call Dr. Minka for an examination but she doesn’t really want to see her right now.
Instead she puts all of that anxiety into her art.
Cyan does the same.
Cyan: Yay, Mommy!
Matisse proudly displays it in the kitchen with the other two plates she created.
Now that Kent’s up it’s time to throw Skye her Transition Party!
Not everysim was invited. With all of the conflict going on between Minka and Matisse’s brother, Kent thought it best not to invite her. Blood is thicker than water after all.
Kent gets started on grilling the tofu dogs. He’s stoked his buddy Paragon could make it. He knows how busy he is at the bakery.
Nico Firestone and Faith Goodacre are the first to start the Toddler Hugglefest. Gwyneth Landgraab doesn’t seem all that impressed.
Faith’s sister, Holly Goodacre, is the first to play in the leaves!
Matisse: Don’t be scared, Baby Skye. It’s real easy. I just throw you up a baby and you come back down a toddler!
Skeptical Skye is Skeptical.
Cyan catches the attention of her uncle Musician Kendrick Troubadour. She loves getting to spend time with him.
Chef George Lambswool is embarrassingly stuck in the middle of Malcolm singing the praises of his wife.
Tofu dogs are ready!
And so are Matisse and Skye!
Paragon: Old married chicks in bikinis are gross!
Seamstress Dawn Lambswool: Do you want me to shove this noise-maker down your throat?!
Paragon: nn-no ma’am…
Dawn’s the first to get the birthday party started.
Up a baby…
Down a toddler!
See, nothing to be afraid of Skye!
Skye is a beauty just like her sister. I feel some serious sibling rivalry happening between these two.
Matisse begins to ponder the otherworldly experience it is to transition ages. How does it happen? Who makes the call? Is there really somesim out in the depths of their little universe watching over them? Maybe this is something she could write about in the paper.
Nico’s getting all of the attention from the ladies today! This time he huggles Cyan and Skye’s cousin Poem Mason-Troubadour.
As the guests make their way to the food…
Matisse makes her way to the bathroom to do something with all of that hair.
Antonio Lambswool: Mommy… Daddy… Hello?
There we go! Now it’s wrapped in a pretty bow. Skye Troubadour-Healey is a 5-8-2-8-7 Libra who’s highly interested in toys. She’s an Eco-Friendly (Matisse) Social Butterfly (Kent). She got her freckles and dimples from her Dad and her wavy hair from her Mom.
Luckily Cyan missed how pretty how sister turned out.
*Paragon & Kent BFFs*
Here she is, ready for her close-up!
The Lambswools continue to traumatize their children.
Faith is a hugger! Here she cuddles with Cyan and Skye’s other cousin, Aria Mason-Troubadour.
Kendrick: You know, I let Minka win that fight. I couldn’t be known as the guy who beats up women!
Yeah, no one believes you Kendrick. Especially since you were the one that jumped her.
Skye makes her way to the coloring table for the first time and seems a bit lost. Maybe she’s not as artistic as the rest of the family.
Malcolm and Kent’s team must be doing pretty bad.
A few scribbles later and voila! Skye’s first masterpiece.
A sisterly huggle from Holly and Eve Goodacre.
Kent picks up his new little toddler for the first time. He’s overcome with pure love and joy.
He was a little worried before when he found out Matisse was expecting again, but now he’s glad they forgot to put soda in the woohoo. He would be happy to have a hundred more of these little miracles.
*Dad and Daughter Besties*
Cyan: I haven’t heard that baby in a while. Maybe one of the party guests took it home with them!
Kent returns to his clay.
Risa the Raccoon stops by for a visit.
There’s the screaming. We missed it so much…
A free-roaming Cyan finds Malcolm out on his nightly stroll.
Cyan: Me up!
Malcolm is a sucker for cute little babies.
This one is extra special. It’s his gift to Matisse for being such an awesome girlfriend and mother 😊
Then he tends to Skye.
It’s time for Skye to start Potty Training 101.
Skye: I have a bad feeling about this…
OK Cyan, you have to stop barfing on the Landgraabs!
Kent catches Malcolm before he leaves and steers the conversation towards the condo.
Kent: You don’t really need the rent from this place. You should sign over the deed to us!
Malcolm: Why would I do that. That’s not smart business?
Kent: If you do, I won’t tell anysim that you cheated on your wife with my Matisse. That information could ruin your career. No one wants to vote for a cheater for Mayor! Come on, it’s the least you can do.
Malcolm: I don’t think I like you…
Needless to say, Kent’s blackmailing scheme worked. Malcolm signed over the deed to the house to Matisse. The Troubadour-Healey family no longer has to pay rent to the Landgraabs.
Kent celebrates his victory by rewarding himself with a slice of birthday pie.
Kent: Hmph, and they say I’m “Not Too Bright!”
I take it all back, Einstein.
Malcolm celebrates his defeat by soaking in their hot tub.
Wednesday, Day 17
“My Big Fat Home Remodel”
Not able to sleep through the night again, Matisse wakes up early to finish painting. She’s stopped half-way through for *Pop #2!*
As she paints Condo On The Beach #2, Matisse’s thoughts go to her conversation with Kent earlier. He was right about them not having a lot of money. With the new baby coming the tiny condo would be cramped even more. Just what she needs, she thought, more things to be worried and anxious about.
Maybe a little cleaning will help get her mind off of her troubles.
Skye: Hi Sis, look, I grew up!
Cyan: Why is this thing talking to me. And why is it BY MY XYLOPHONE!!??
Skye: *tries to sleep*
Cyan: *BANGS LOUDLY ON THE XYLOPHONE!*
Cyan: Muhahaha! How does it feel?!
Oh boy. This is going to be a problem.
Matisse returns to the pottery wheel…
and adds another cute plate to her collection.
As they sleep the powers that be (namely me) work tirelessly to remodel their old condo into an artist’s paradise.
17 Oceanside Boulevard is now a four bedroom, three bathroom bungalow filled with color and light…
with it’s own art studio in the back!
*Quick Tour*
The entryway has a small desk…
and a credenza with stairs leading to the second floor.
The kitchen sits on the other side of the entryway and is divided with a wall of paned glass.
The living room…
and the dinning room.
A beaded curtain leads to…
Matisse and Kent’s bedroom…
and bath.
Upstairs leads to the children’s bedrooms.
Cyan’s bedroom…
and Skye’s.
The new baby’s room will be decorated after it’s born. Both of the girls’ room have en suite bathrooms.
Out back is the new art studio! Here’s a place for Kent…
and a place for Matisse!
There’s even a spot for the kidlets!
Kent splurged and got himself a photo booth! He just had to have one.
*************************************************************************************************************************
Skye: Sissy, we got a new house! Let’s huggle!
Cyan: Don’t think this means I like you, Girly.
Kent surveys the new surroundings. He likes what he sees.
Kent rushes to the art studio to try out his pottery wheel in the new space.
The girls excitedly explore their new digs.
Cyan finds her room and a comfy new rug on the floor to sleep on.
Kent makes another huge “jug” and places it in the dining room.
Then he has his first meal in the new space.
After a quick potty training session…
Kent is back in the studio…
and Skye takes a nap in her room.
Matisse wakes up to a whole new house!
Matisse: What the Plumbob?!
Seriously, Kent is just making items for the house now. He wants to fill it with both his and Matisse’s bright and colorful creations.
Matisse is so happy that she, at least, doesn’t have to worry about space for the new baby.
Kent really did it! He got Malcolm to give them the condo and renovated it into the coolest house on the island. Matisse’s respect for Kent just skyrocketed.
SHE DID IT! SHE DID IT!
Now Matisse can quit her job at the paper and become a full-time artiste!
Our third Arts & Crafts NPC is created.
Matisse hangs her Arts & Crafts plaque proudly beside her easel.
To celebrate Matisse’s new achievement, Kent tries his hand at a dish Chef George always raves about, Risotto with Peas.
Oh dear.
Awww, you tried sweetheart. *gold star*
Skye likes being able to color with Mommy inside — away from the freezing winter chill.
After finishing Condo On The Beach #2…
Matisse starts her new profession.
Well, after the baby’s born, that is.
Kent greets his buddy Mechanic Connor Firestone and invites him in for dinner.
*Best Friends*
Connor passes on the meal to watch the soccer match.
It’s a good thing, too!
It’s getting late so Kent says goodnight to his new bestie.
Matisse wants to take a photo in the booth to match Kent’s.
Matisse giggles at the silly pictures. Good call, Kent!
They would love it if every time they had a guest over they would take photos in the booth. Then they could have a wall of family and friends being goofy!
Thanks for reading!! ^.^
…
What? You wanted to see the baby being born? Well, it’s not supposed to happen until Spring at 2am! Oh, alright. 😆
Matisse: Sul-sul!!
Two babies from Risky Woohoo… I. can’t. even…
It’s a BOY!!!!
Gray Troubadour-Healey has his mother’s dark skin and black hair and his father’s dark blue eyes.
and Gray’s twin is…
ANOTHER BOY!! Clay Troubadour-Healey has his dad’s medium skin and dark blue eyes and his mother’s black hair.
Welcome to the family boys! I don’t know how Cyan is going to take this…
Notes
- Sadie’s behavior at Healey Potter cracked me up. She just stood around and people watched. She definitely had her eye on Kent and his goings-on.
- This was my first Risky Woohoo baby (or babies)! Of course it would be Matisse 😛
- If you’re wondering why there’s no Cindy Lou — no, I didn’t kill her — but I did teleport her off of the lot every time she showed up. I didn’t have the patience for her this time around.
Thank you for reading!! ^.^
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