The Broke Legacy: Gen 4.5 (Part 3)

[simgaroop]

Previous update: Gen 4.4.










Well, Diary...

I guess I could say that things went better than I expected.
Buck and I were still together.
But Buck felt quite depressed for several weeks.
He missed his father.
And he was very sorry for everything he said to him that night.






Mom suggested that Buck should invite his brothers over for dinner.
As much as we Brokes cared for him, he needed to be in contact with his own family.
So, I finally convinced him to call them.




The Grunt brothers were reunited, for the first time in years, last night.




Buck and I were afraid that a huge fight would occur, with Ripp and Tank in the same room.
We grew up watching those two fight and argue all the time, after all.
But surprisingly enough, they got along just fine.




Ripp is as loud and cheerful as always.
He has just finished his History studies at La Fiesta Tech.
He already got a job as a spelunker in a couple of caves in the middle of the desert.
He's planning a long trip around the world.
He said there are more strange things out there ready to be discovered, so he'll just let "life guide him" until he finds them.




Tank, on the other hand, is a lot quieter and reserved than his brother.
He's currently renting a room a few blocks away.
His roommate, Kristen Loste, is a young widow who needed money to support her toddler son, so she rented a spare room in her apartment.
Tank thinks she's a lovely woman, despite not knowing her well yet.
He found a job as a security guard at the local Mall.
He says he's happy there, despite the low income and the late shifts.
He's even planning to enter the Police Academy.
He's confident he'll do well there with all the Military training he had in the past.




It was a great night for Buck and his brothers, Diary.
But not only because of their reunion.
Nope, something else happened!




It all started just as Mom noticed something wrong with Dad.
"Puck? Your dinner is going to get cold!"




"In a minute, Wanda. I need to take care of something first..."
"Puck..."
"It's all right..."




We were all so distracted listening to Ripp's stories about his romantic encounter with several of his teachers (much to Mom's annoyance), that we didn't notice that there was someone watching us outside.




"I can't believe this... Well, if they prefer to fraternize with the enemy, then so be it. I don't need my sons. I don't need anyone..."




Someone who, as much as he tried to pretend the opposite, felt truly alone without his family.
The one thing he had tried to avoid for years. The reason why he had overprotected his sons and neglected his wife.
So much work... for nothing.
He was as lonely as he had felt that day... 45 years ago.





"What are you doing here, Grunt? Do you want to insult my wife again, like you did the other day?"




As soon as he noticed my Dad, the General paled- "Summerdream... I'm sorry for the way I acted... I..."
"What's wrong, Grunt? Why won't you look at my face?"
"I... I just can't look at your eyes... Puck. They remind me of my failure... of..."
"They remind me of my father, right?"
"How do you...?"




"I found an old photo album the day Buck arrived to our house. I've been trying to do some research about my parents, but so far, I haven't found anything..."
"That's because the Army destroyed all the data available. What your father did was such a dishonor to our ranks, that our superiors did everything to hide the fact he even existed... let alone his involvement with our ranks..."
"I tried to ask Buck about the pictures, but he didn't recognize them..."
"Of course he didn't. I... after his death, he was never mentioned in my house again..."
"But you named your youngest son after him..."
"I know..."
"Please, General, tell me what happened... Who was Buck Strong?"
"Buck... he was my brother..."




"What?"
"Well, we weren't related by blood, but I always considered him as part of my family.
Buck was an orphan. His parents were under the orders of my father, General Chip Grunt, and they died during a mission in the mountains.
An avalanche buried them while they were trying to rescue a couple of lost tourists.
My father felt responsible for little Buck's welfare, so he brought him to our house when he was six years old.
My parents never adopted him, but raised him as their own son nonetheless.




Buck was my best friend, my confident.
We did everything together.
And as we grew older, we both decided we'd join the Army like our parents.
We both joined the Military School when we were 15.




I was always a good soldier, thanks to my father's strict training and discipline, but Buck was amazing.
He was strong, fast and lethal.




He was also quite intelligent and he made friends easily.
I must admit I always admired him.
By the time we were 18, we both had strong military careers.
We went up the ranks very fast.




When Buck turned 25, he was already a Commander. He had enough money to get his own place.
He built this house right next to mine. We'd both raise our families together.
And one day, he got an excellent opportunity at the Base.
He was offered to become an Astronaut.
I was extremely proud of him.




But before he got the job, he had to prove he was able to deal with our pesky enemies, the aliens.
The Army had a great mission in mind: They were building a spaceship that could travel far away from our System.
The plan was to invade Graslax. To destroy that planet and to stop their parasitic activities in our planet once and for all.
It was a very extreme measure, but by then the alien population at Strangetown was on the rise, and the new law of Mayor Lilith Broke was making things harder for us.
The only thing we needed was to learn the exact position of Graslax.
And that was Buck's job.

With his good looks and pleasant personality, he was asked to befriend the spawn of our sworn enemy, Pollination Technician #9.
The one alien who had humiliated my grandfather years before.
So, he contacted Chloe Curious, a young alien spawn who frequented the night clubs at Downtown every night.
The plan was to make her fall in love with him, to win her trust so she could confess the position of her planet.
It was a low, dirty plan... I'm aware of that.
As I said before, extreme problems require extreme measures.




But Chloe and Buck were exact opposites.
So he had a hard time winning her trust.
They often argued about their position in the whole struggle between the alien population and the army.




I... I have no idea when things went wrong.
Buck never told me why he fell in love with her.
Actually, he didn't tell anyone about how deep his relationship with Chloe had become... until it was too late.




She visited him one night, crying her eyes out.
She was terrified after finding out she was pregnant.
For Buck, this was the best thing that could ever happen to him.
So, he asked her to marry him that same night.




He called me at 2 in the morning.
When he told me what had happened, I was speechless.
"You... you can't be serious, Buck! This is against our mission! Are you really going to betray our principles?"




"Buzz. I... I love her. I don't care what happens to me or to my career! It doesn't matter anymore..."
"But she's an alien! A parasite! You know her kind! You..."
"Stop it! I won't let you talk about Chloe like that..."
"But..."




They "got married" an hour later.
Well, it wasn't exactly a marriage ceremony, for they only recited their vows to each other.
Not only would the army be against Buck's marriage, Chloe's family wouldn't accept her soldier husband either.




That night, Chloe gained a husband.
But I lost my best friend, my brother.
I knew things wouldn't be the same between us ever again.




I tried to befriend Chloe. I really did.
But the grudge between our families... our races was very deep.
And before I knew it, Buck and I drifted apart.
Buck left the Army and I was soon named General.
I met Lyla during a mission, and married her a few months later.
Neither Buck nor his wife attended my wedding.




And of course, I wasn't there when Chloe gave birth to you, Puck.




What we always wanted was coming true.
Buck finally had a family and although we were waiting a few years before trying for a baby, Lyla and I would eventually have our own children.
But we wouldn't raise them together as we wanted.




A year went by...




I had only seen you a couple times at the park, but you really were Buck's son.
You looked so much like he did as a kid.
Your alien traits freaked me out, though.
They reminded me of the woman that had separated us.




Chloe worked as a barwoman at a fancy night club.
Buck was still unemployed. He spent the whole day taking care of you.
All the records of his achievements at the Army were destroyed.
His betrayal was a deep wound for the Army.
This was even worse than the time the army recruited a Graslaxian, Sirius Curious, to brainwash him.
A plan that obviously backfired. I still don't know what my father was thinking back then.
The current mission was also cancelled, of course, once Chloe let her alien relatives about our plans.

Anyway, on the day of your first birthday, your parents were preparing a small party.





But Buck was so absorbed playing with you, which he forgot about the cake he left in the oven.
Until it was too late...




Of course, no one will ever know exactly what happened, but I'm sure that Buck did everything he could to stop the fire and protect his family.
If... If only I had been there...























I spent that day with Lyla at Downtown, and when I returned to my house, I found this place surrounded by firemen.
Terrified, I ran inside... only to find out exactly what I already imagined.





Buck and Chloe were dead, consumed by the flames.
The sight of their toddler son, lying and crying over their ashes, broke my heart.




Just like Buck, you were now all alone in the world.
The product of an unlikely marriage.
My first thought was to take you with me.
I was sure Lyla would love you like a son.
We could raise you and protect you like my parents did with Buck.

But the sight of your alien features.
Your pointy ears and your eyes... they drove me away.
You'd always be a reminder of my failure.
If only I had taken the mission instead of Buck.
If only I had noticed that Buck was falling in love with Chloe.
If only... I had protected my friend from the aliens.
He'd still be with me. We'd both have our dreamed families.
We could have even celebrated the birthday of Buck's first son together.

I... I also didn't want aliens in my home.
The aliens... they had destroyed my Grandfather's life.
They had brought shame to my father... and they had brought the dishonor and death of my best friend.
Soon I'd have my own kids... and I wanted to protect them.
I swore that day, that I wouldn't let them be touched by the green ones.
I wouldn't make the same mistakes I did with Buck.




So I did the only thing I could think of...




She arrived unusually fast.
She didn't say a single word.
She only picked you up and left the house.





That was the last time I ever saw you...
Or that's what I thought.

But then I saw you 25 years later, when you proposed to your alien girlfriend... to Wanda ... I was so sickly reminded of your parents that I almost did something stupid to avoid your engagement. I... I just took your plate away.... remember?




Since then, your face has always haunted me, Puck.
You remind me so much of Buck.
I failed him. And I failed you.
I left you alone... I was so sick of the aliens that I forgot that you were also Buck's son.
And when I watched you and your wife... I often feared that you'd have the same end as your father...
But you didn't... right?

And my own family... no matter what I've done, they all left me.
First it was Lyla, sick of being locked inside our home.
Then Ripp... who never forgave me for Lyla's disappearance.
And now Tank and my little Buck...
They just won't see that everything I've done, I did it to protect them.
I wanted them to be safe from the aliens.
But it doesn't matter... the aliens won again.

And... I'm so sorry...




"General, you don't have to be sorry for what happened to me. In fact, I think that sending me to the orphanage was the best thing you could ever done. I was raised by the best parents I could ever wish for. Half-aliens, just like me..."
"I see..."
"Don't you see that this stupid grudge between the aliens and your family should end, General? It's the hate and resentment between both sides what have made your family miserable for generations. It's what prevented our alien antecessors to become an active part of our community. What happened to my parents was just an accident, General! It didn't happen because my mother was an alien..."
"But if I had still been Buck's friend, I could have saved him..."
"Stop living in the past, General! What's done is done! Focus in the future! Things have changed! Don't you see that you have a second opportunity to make things right? Don't you see that my daughter, Buck Strong's granddaughter, and your son are in love? Isn't that what both of you wanted? To raise your families together?
"I... I'd had never seen it like that..."
"I'll admit I was reluctant at first to accept their relationship... I didn't want Rose Mary to be involved with the Grunts, but my family and Buck have opened my eyes and showed me that I was also falling into this stupid grudge's trap."
"I know it's not easy... but just, give your sons the right to choose, to make their own mistakes. What happened to Buck Strong is in the past. Your sons are different persons, and I'm sure that despite the troubles and the lack of a mother, you raised them well. And you won't ever lose them..."
"I..."




"He's right, Dad..."





"I'm really sorry I lied to you all these months. And I'm really sorry for all those things I said the other day. I had no idea about your friend, and now I understand why you tried to keep us inside the house all the time."
"Buck..."
"Dad! No matter what happens, you won't ever lose us! I... I love you. All of us love you... even Ripp in his own way. But you've got to let us free. I don't want to be a soldier! I... I want to go to College like everyone else. I always wanted to go to school, to have a girlfriend, all the stuff normal kids do. And I'm finally doing it! And I'm safe!"




"I know it, Buck. Now I start to see that locking you inside the house was doing you more harm than good. I'm sorry for that..."
"Well Dad, that's in the past, right?"
"Yes, that's in the past. None of you are kids anymore, and I trust you to make the right decisions... I'll make things different this time, if you give me a chance to do it."
"Of course I will, Dad."





So, Diary, Buck and I are still together.
But he's not living with us anymore.





He left this morning.
He packed all his things and moved back to his house.
It's been just a couple hours and I already miss him.
But hey! He's right next door.
And that's the best thing that could happen to him... and the General.

_________________________________




Well, it's been six months since I moved back with Dad.
You might wonder how are things now, right?
All right, let's see...




Tank is still living with Kristen Loste.
He won't accept it yet, but I'm pretty sure he's dating her.
You know how reserved he's always been.




Tank visits often... or at least as much as his schedule lets him.
He joined the Police Academy and I've never seen him happier.




He's now a cadet.
He says he's glad to make good use of the skills he developed as a soldier to continue protecting people.





You won't believe this, but Ripp moved back to our place.
He's still saving money for his "big trip around the world".




Dad and Ripp argue often.
Nothing serious, don't worry.
But you know how huge their tempers are.
Dad is always suggesting Ripp to find a girlfriend, to get a better haircut, to get some decent clothes and a stable job.
Ripp of course ignores him... most of the time.
He asked me to go with him to the mall this weekend. Something about getting a pair of pants without holes.




Dad still cares a lot for our safety.
He never goes to bed before Ripp comes back from work.
He's a bit overprotective, that will never change.
I wouldn't want things other way, though.
Dad might not be the kind of guy to hug and say "I love you", easily.
But it's through his actions how we know that he cares.




I still train with Dad twice a week.
Although I'm not interested in following a Military career, Dad says it's important to exercise to keep a good health.
Frankly, I'm so bad at it and I don't reaaaaaally like it.
But it's some sort of "special father and son" time, so that makes it worth the achy legs and back after I'm done.




We still follow a strict schedule at home.
We wake up at 0600 and go to bed at 2200.
We all have chores to do around the house, but we no longer do them out of fear of angering Dad.
We do them because it's the best way we can keep this house in shape.




We no longer have to finish our dinners in five minutes.
We now spend some time chatting.
Of course, now that we can go to school and work, we have more stuff to talk about.
When Tank comes over for dinner, his discussions with Ripp can be heard all around the neighborhood.
Honestly, I like the sound of them. The world would stop spinning if those two acted any other way.




But in my case, the biggest change can be noticed at night.




"Hey, Dad. I was wondering if you'd let me go out with Rosie tonight. There's this movie we both want to see and she got tickets and..."




"All right, Buck. Just call me as soon as you arrive to the movie theatre and be back home no later than 2200, understood?"
"Yes, sir!"




"Yes!"




So yeah, we are doing all right.
There are still some things we must work out around here, but so far we've all managed to make things better.
Dad is reading Cosmo Broke's memories too, to realize the Graslaxian point of view.
I hope he'll let go completely his grudge against aliens one day.
And I know he will.

I'm happy.
My life, while not completely perfect, is finally the way I always wanted it to be.

Actually... there is one thing that would make things perfect.
And that would be if you returned home, Mom.

I'm sure you'd be pleased with the way things are now.

________________________________




Yikes Diary!
I can't believe this is the last page I'll ever write on you.
You've been my companion during the last two years, so it's going to be hard to let you go.
Of course, Helena says I'm being melodramatic, and that I'll just buy a new notebook to replace you.

And as Grandpa has always said, change is good.












































Now that I've re-read your pages, is hard to believe that so many things have happened in this time.
I'm just glad that after the whole deal between Buck, the General and my alien roots, things are now normal.

Oh right! Remember the exam that Buck had to take last week?





You know, the one he had to take to get his Stylist Bronze Diploma (and a raise, as Mom promised him)?
He passed it, Diary!
His examiner, Mr. Asteroid Roseland, was impressed with Buck's work.









I'm just glad all those afternoons he spent practicing with Timmy and I like if we were Guinea Pigs paid off in the end.
I'm still getting used to my new haircut, Diary. Although a lot shorter than I expected it, I sort of like it.




Of course, after his "practice sessions", Buck and I also had an "extracurricular studying session" in the attic.
Don't tell anyone, Diary, but I often wish Buck were more daring when we have sex.
I'm quite bored of doing it in his room.
You should had seen his face when I tried to convince him to do it inside a changing booth at Cold Fusion.
He's such... a prude sometimes!




But I'm going off-topic diary, that's not how I wanted to end your last page.
Today was Helena's birthday.
Or as people in Graslax say, it was her 168th Moon Day.
The day in which half-alien kids reach "adulthood".




It was a very nice party!




We followed the Graslaxian tradition of celebrating it at night.
And once Helena transitioned, she ignited some fireworks to let the Graslaxian mothership that another half-alien has reached adulthood and is ready to continue the bloodline.




Helena is not interested in kids or that kind of stuff yet, though.
Well, who'd blame her? I don't want kids either!
So, we forgot about her Graslaxian duties and enjoyed the party.




It was nice writing and sharing you my memories from these last two years.
But it's time to let you go.

Bye, Diary!

_____________________




When Helena told me that David Ottomas had asked her out, I was thrilled.
My little sister, already going to her first date!
She told me she wanted to look "amazing" for him, so she'd visit Mom's Salon and ask Buck to do something "out of this world" with her hair.
I wanted to go with her, but there was a gig that afternoon at the Coffee Shop, so I had to be there to make things sounded right.




When I returned home that evening, Timmy was waiting for me outside.




"Don't go inside, Rosie! Dad is in a VERY bad mood right now! And it's all Helena's fault!"
"What are you talking about, Timmy?"

Timmy giggled- "Dad says it's not funny but... uh... just wait until you look at her. But not now!"




Of course, Timmy's words were enough to make me curious, so I ignored his advice and went inside.
Dad and Helena were in the study room.
Dad was extremely angry.
And Helena...




Helena was completely bald!




"There's no way I'm going to let you go out like that, Helena Summerdream. Are you out of your mind? Why did you do that?!"




A couple hours later, Buck came over, completely embarrassed.
"I swear I didn't have anything to do with this. She didn't listen to me, Rosie! She said that David likes her pointy ears, so she wanted to show them off for him. And that it was a popular look in Graslaxian fashion magazines. I had no idea those magazines even existed!"




"I just hope your Father doesn't kill me now"
"Don't worry, Buck. This is Helena we are talking about. I'd be surprised if she had chosen a more conventional hairdo."
"Besides... I think it worked. David seems to like her new look..."




Heh, ever since Helena became a teen, things have been quite interesting around the house.
Despite being grounded for all eternity, she is proud of her new look.
In some odd way, I think it suits her.




And I'm not the only one who thinks that.




Must be the green skin and the pointy ears.




I just couldn't believe it when I found her kissing school's hottie Abhjeet Jr:!




Helena wants to be an artist.
I guess reading all those Graslaxian books and spending so much time with Grandpa Cosmo finally affected her, for she now wants the world to see the beauties that Graslax have to offer.
Her goal is to reproduce all the great Graslaxian masterpieces and open a Gallery at Strangetown.
So, she's been practicing several techniques.
She wants to major in art, so she needs a good portfolio to be accepted at La Fiesta Tech.




She's also quite popular at school.
There's no day in which she's not asked out by someone.
She's a frequent visitor at Downtown's most popular nightclubs.




Dad doesn't approve Helena's lifestyle.
"I... I just don't know what to do with Helena! The clothes she wear, the places she go, her... lack of hair! She's out of control!"




"Relax, Puck. It's just a phase. Remember when I shaved my head, Wanda?"




"Oh, of course I do! And I also still remember the crazy dye jobs I did on my hair when I was a teen. Those days were so fun! Come on, Puck! Remember the silly stuff we used to do when you visited Strangetown for the first time!"
"I... I remember it. But you can't compare your pink hair and our dates to what kids do these days. I... If only Helena were as responsible and sensible as Rose Mary..."




Sometimes I envy Helena's free spirit.
It's like everyone has such high expectations for me.
Dad wants me to go to the music conservatory at Veronaville.
Mom wants me to keep my good grades.
My boss wants me to work longer shifts everyday.
And Buck is now talking about the future! About what we are going to do in a couple of years.
Who cares? You only live once and I for now, I just want to have fun!

I feel I can only be wild and carefree during sex.
I wish I had the guts to do the kind of crazy stuff Helena does...

_________________________________




Being a teenager sucks so much!
To think I was so excited when my time to transition finally arrived.
As I blew my candles, I imagined the kind of neat stuff I'd be able to do now.




Sure, I'm now taller and stronger.
But I'm not popular... or handsome.
The girls at school ignore me.
And I'm not strong enough to deal with the stupid bullies that harass me all the time.




I also don't have enough money to go to clubs or the cinema.
And I want a car, badly!
I got a job as a golf caddy, but the pay sucks.
So, I try to earn money by other ways.
I'm a good artist. Those lessons I took as a kid were useful in the end.
I sell my paintings at local gift stores.
The pay is also crap, but at least I'm able to save something for my future car.
How am I going to ask my girl out if I don't have the wheels to take her everywhere?




Well, there's one good thing of being a teen.
I can finally ask Marsha Bruening out, of course!
She's just... so perfect!
To think such a psycho and ugly girl would become such a hot girl.
And she's also my best friend to boot!
Today is her birthday, and I've been planning something special for her.




When I told my sisters my plans, both of them were shocked.
"You want to ask Marsha Bruening out? And you want to become her boyfriend? Helena, am I going insane?"




*Cough* "Nope, I heard the same thing. Tim is actually interested in his stalker."




"Oh please, Helena! It's been a long time since Marsha acted like that. She's different now."




"I don't know Tim, but well, be my guest..."




Sure, Marsha was a bit annoying when we were kids, but she grew out of that phase.
Really!
And tonight, I have the perfect birthday present for her.
I've saved for months, and I'm going to take her to Londoste!
I hope she doesn't mind riding in my bike to get there.
And once we are there, I'm going to ask her to be my girlfriend.
Maybe if I'm lucky... I'll get to kiss her!
"Well, ladies, I'm going now. Marsha and the twins must be already waiting for me outside!"
"Good luck, Tim!"




Oh, this is going to be great... this is going to... Huh?!














"Oh Tim! You won't believe this! Hobbes asked me to be his girlfriend! Isn't this great?"




"Uh... yeah... really great..."




So, being a teenager sucks.
But having your heart broken by the girl of your dream sucks even more...



________________________________________

Notes:
- Happy New Year 2008!
- I don't have the stat pics ready, but meanwhile I'll let you know that Helena (like Rose Mary) is a romance sim with the LTW of becoming a Visionary (Top of Art Career) while Tim is a fortune sim with the LTW of earning 100,000. I've never tried that LTW, I hope it's not as hard as it sounds.
- We have double heirs for this generation, Tim and Rose Mary.
- I really couldn't find a decent hairdo for Helena's teen makeover, until I tried the bald look (and this has nothing to do with Britney, BTW). Helena's also the first female alien I actively play, so I had no idea how to give her decent makeup that wouldn't make her look too cheap. There is few alien make up options out there (or I haven't been able to find them).
- Speaking of teen makeovers... I couldn't resist having Tim wear that pink cap that came with OFB, at least for a little while ^^.
- With this update, I realized how cute Tank Grunt really is. By the way, all the interactions between Buck and his brothers at the Salon were by free will.
- I didn't plan to have Ripp be Buck's first customer, he just showed up on the lot and went straight for Buck. By the way, the Sims really are glutons for punishment, because when I play the salon lot, all the clients ignore Wanda and her gold badge skills and go to Buck for their makeovers. Therefore, I have a ton of crazy haired, bad made-up townies running around Strangetown.
- Timmy and Marsha's kiss was done with the help of a mod that enables "childhood crushes" or "puppy love". Marsha had a one-sided childhood crush for Timmy after that interaction.
- Rose Mary and Buck are the most sexually active teens I've ever had in my game. All their woohooing is autonomous and courtesy of ACR. I only wish they could pick other place instead of Cosmo's bed.
- The teen Helena had her "first kiss" with is of course, Wanda's former boyfriend Abhjeet (aka Goth kid) :P. Let's pretend it's his son, for Helena has a three bolt attraction with him,.
- The alien examiner/reviewer at the end is Cyd Roseland's alien son. Before I started the Brokes, my younger sister played with Cyd at Strangetown. He is currently an elder in my neighborhood.
- Thank you so much for reading! See you next time!

Comments

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

Timmy was my first choice for heir, but until I figured out the whole deal with Marsha, I had no idea what to do with him story-wise. Rose Mary, on the other hand, had a more interesting story, despite being some sort of Wanda clone (at least in looks).

So, I decided to keep them both. And now that I have some idea about what to do with Timmy, I guess it'll be fun to play with them at the same time. Of course, my house is going to explode once the babies arrive.

Thanks for reading!