Eternal Sim Stories

For fear of this chapter being too long, I thought that I might have to split this one into three separate chapters. They all a theme, I am not going to mention what that is. All I can say is the that first chapter is NSFW.

One I am done editing the first of these chapters, I will post it here and I will continue with the second one.

First off, thank you to those of you who voted. I will add both Charmed to the Bone and Nothing Like the Jones to my list to write. I actually do have an idea what chapter two and three of the latter will be. A hint for one of those, it has to do with the Invention Constructor.

I also learned how to posts better polls in the future.

For the Merfolk Legacy 🧜...

I'm still playing through it before I write it, and this one's taking some extra care behind the scenes.

The first night, I tested a mod I'd never used before, and it took me all night and morning to figure it out. I did make a few mistakes, but I learned from them.

I also ran into some trouble getting a couple of other mods to cooperate. One worked, but not quite the way I needed for a scene. So I swapped it for something similar that got the job done.

Then I hit a snag trying to set up a moment I have planned for this chapter. But that didn't pan out the way I expected.

It all Sounds Ambitious

I know. However, I still have one or two more nights to play the Merfolk Legacy. I don't know how long this one is going to be because it has a few subplots (Or one main one and two or three subs). But this chapter will have a theme.

It'll probably take me an extra week or two to finish writing this chapter. But I hope that you'll like it.

Hey Simmers! Meet the newest character in the Merfolk Legacy: Jacob Dagon.

He is a merfolk with the physique of a bodybuilder. I don't want to talk much about his background because that will be in this next chapter of this series. But his aspiration has a little bit to do with what he will become in this story.

However, a part of this next chapter has one aspect that he is totally into when it comes to anything Macabre. Jacob's into anything that has to do with crime, whether it be cop shows, or a biography of a serial killer.

Jacob is a nosy person who can't help asking questions that aren't his business. Jacob wants to know who said what, who left with who, and what really happened at that party three weeks ago. Ask him to mind his own business and he'll just smile and ask another question.

Underneath all that, he falls hard and fast for anyone who catches his eye. Jacob writes love notes he never sends and remembers small details about people he barely knows. This is all because his heart moves faster than his head.

You get to pick which one moves forward.

You only have one more day to vote for your favorite new story. And there can only be one winner.

Out of these five, which one do you want to see more of?

If you haven't had the chance to read any of them, that's okay. Pick whichever one pulls you in the most.

Here are your choices:

Charmed to the Bone (Spellcaster Romance) - About a sugar baby who never planned on living with five suitors. And she definitely didn't expect three of them to be famous.

Hollow Ground (Slice of Life Drama) - A couple changes their home into a dormitory and lets six university students live with them. All of them are occults, except one lone human student.

Nothing Like the Jones (Occult Comedy) - An alien family arrived to study human social behavior. They soon find we are far stranger than they ever expected.

Power Play (Noir Casino Drama) - Step inside Blue Sky Casino, where Ximena Hunt runs the show and nobody's quite what they seem.

Velvet Venom (Occult Drama, NSFW) - A mother spends her days raising four kids. But every night, she owns and runs the most talked-about club in town.

You have until Saturday, July 11th, to vote for the story you're most excited to see continue.

Curious to read them for yourself? Here are the links to all five stories:

Charmed to the Bone

Hollow Ground

Nothing Like the Jones

Power Play

Double Dates Part 3

Previous | Next

A few days later, Rosemary joined Cupid’s Corner to conduct her research on dating for senior humans. She finally found a match.

A week later, she and her granddaughter Gabrielle were preparing for a double date at the carnival pier in Plumbite Cove, which is a neighborhood in Copperdale.

This meant Rosemary was researching not only how human elders approach romance, but also how her granddaughter would experience her first date. She watched Gabrielle smooth her jacket for the third time and said nothing.

“Hello, Rosemary,” said Rosemary’s date, who had a salt and pepper beard and a brown newsboy hat on.

Rosemary studied him for a brief moment. He looked exactly like his profile photo, which was a good sign.

“Hello Gert,” answered Rosemary. “This is my granddaughter Gabrielle. She’s also waiting for her date.”

“Nice to meet you, Gert,” said Gabrielle.

“Ah, so it’s a double date and we’re also chaperoning too,” said Gert. “How old are you?”

“I’m 17,” answered Gabrielle.

“She’s about to graduate this year,” said Rosemary.”And she’s going to go to college soon.”

“Ah, kids,” said Gert. “They grow up so fast. So, who are we waiting for?”

“His name is Dante,” answered Gabrielle. Her voice went up slightly on his name. “He asked me out a few days ago, and I’m so excited because this is my first date.”

Just then a teenage boy, wearing a grey newsboy hat came riding in on his bike. He saw Gabrielle and stopped and got off his bike near a gate.

“Hi Dante,” said Gabrielle as she went up to him. “I’m glad you made it.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Dante responded.

“Please come and meet my grandmother Rosemary,” said Gabrielle and they both walked up to both seniors. “She’s also with her date, his name is Gert. So this is going to be a double date with chaperones.”

“Chaperones!” said Dante, somewhat disappointed. “Great.”

“Don’t worry, it’s going to be fun,” said Rosemary. “You’ll see.”

“Yes,” agreed Gert. “That’s why we’re all going to the carnival, to have fun.”

“Let’s go then,” answered Gabrielle.

“Let’s get this double date started,” said Dante.

---

All four of them went onto the dock and through the carnival gates. The first ride they encountered was the Haunted House.

“So, do we all want to go into this ride first?” said Dante. “I know that this is not for everyone.”

“My grandmother and I are used to watching horror movies,” answered Gabrielle. “So, we won’t mind. Would we, grandma?”

“I agree, Gabrielle,” said Rosemary. Then she turned to her date. “What about you, Gert?”

“I’ve been to a few haunted house rides, myself in my youth,” he answered

---

All four of them went through the Haunted House together. Gabrielle and Dante went in first, as Rosemary and Gert followed close behind. A few minutes later, they came back out, but none of them looked particularly scared or impressed.

They all went to the next ride beside it, called the Cuddle Cart.

Now this ride was something that Gabrielle had been looking forward to, because she heard from her friends that this one could get romantic.

“How about we go on this ride?” she asked Dante.

“Sure,” said Dante. “Why not?”

Gabrielle smoothed her jacket one more time as they climbed into the Swan-shaped cart, that can only seat two, ahead of her grandmother and Gert. They were right behind them in another cart.

The air inside the ride smelled like artificial roses and a slow romantic melody played on a loop in the background. There were lots of cheesy symbols of hearts and cupids covering every surface, even above them on the ceiling.

Gabrielle looked at Dante who now had flushed cheeks and looked at her with a coy smile. He then closed his eyes and leaned towards her. Was this the sign that he was going to kiss her?

She leaned in a little closer towards him. But Dante, stretched his arms above his head and yawned.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “But this ride is so boring. Would you mind if I take a nap here?”

“I don’t mind,” said Gabrielle, who was a little disappointed. She offered her shoulders to let Dante nap on her for the rest of the ride.

Meanwhile in the other cart, Gert’s eyes had a twinkle in them, (or was it from the fake atmospheric fog that was being pumped in the room?).

“Look, Gert,” said Rosemary in a serious tone. “I’m really happy with my life right now, I really don’t want to be in a serious relationship. I only wanted to go on a date to have fun. So, can we just be friends?”

“Well, thank you for taking all this pressure off,” answered Gert. “Because I want the same thing too. I’m also too old to be in a serious relationship. So, I don’t mind being friends with you, Rosemary.”

---

When Gabrielle got out of the Cuddle Cart ride, she didn’t wait for Dante to get out, she immediately went to a vendor to buy some ice cream. Dante followed her to the eating area.

Rosemary and Gert were the next to get out of their cart. But, because they were both elders, they took their time and helped each other out as friends.

Gabrielle and Dante sat at a picnic table in the food court area. Gabrielle was glad that she ordered ice cream she loved how it tasted on her tongue. This was the only good thing about her date tonight.

“Look, Gabrielle,” said Dante feeling guilty about what happened in the Cuddle Cart. “I’d rather be friends with you.”

She set her cone down. “Then why did you ask me to go on a date with you?”

“Well,” said Dante, hesitating. “Your sister Sera paid me 20 bucks to ask you out.”

“Did she really?” asked Gabrielle, not sure whether to be angry or grateful.

“Yeah, she did,” answered Dante.

She did stare at him for a bit before she picked up her ice cream cone again and became silent.

---

Both Rosemary and Gert went to another vendor and ordered some food. They found and sat at a table close enough to keep an eye on the teenagers without being obvious about it.

“Being in this amusement park, does bring back memories for me,” said Gert.

“Really,” said Rosemary, picking up her cheeseburger.

“But back when I was young,” said Gert. “I had a lot more fun on rides like these. But it’s different now that I am not able be as active as I used to be, thanks to the arthritis in my hips.”

“That’s the way life goes,” said Rosemary. “We just have to live every day to the fullest and not worry about what we can’t change.”

“You’re right about that,” said Gert.

---

“Do you want to go and have some more fun?” Dante got up from the picnic table. “There’s a photo booth nearby. Maybe we can take some pictures there.”

Gabrielle finished the last of her ice cream cone and stood up. “Alright.”

She threw her napkin into the garbage can and followed him as he went inside the booth. He put a coin inside the slot. But as the camera flashed, she forced herself to smile, even though she didn’t feel like it.

A few minutes later, when they came out of the booth, Gabrielle grabbed the developed strip photos from the slot and looked at them. She suddenly realized that even she couldn’t fake a real smile, not even on camera.

“Dante,” said Gabrielle. “I’m glad that we’re going to be friends. But I want to go home, now.”

“Alright,” said Dante. “See you back at school.”

“You too,” said Gabrielle. She watched him leave, then walked over to where her grandmother was sitting.

“What happened to Dante?” said Rosemary, concerned.

“I’ll explain later,” answered Gabrielle. “I just want to go home.”

“Alright,” said Rosemary as she finished eating. She got up with some help from Gabrielle, and then turned to face Gert. “Well, I had a lot of fun meeting you.”

“Me, too,” said Gert. “We’ll get together some other time as friends.”

“Sounds good, Gert,” said Rosemary. “See you later.”

---

By the time they reached the house, Gabriell had told Rosemary everything that had happened . Before they stepped inside the house, they let their human disguises fall away, revealing their true alien nature. Then Rosemary pulled her granddaughter into a hug.

“So, this is your first date, Selorath,” said Rosemary comforting Gabrielle. “It didn’’t turn out the way that you wanted. But there will be a boy in your future who would love you the way that you are.”

“You’re right, grandma,” said Gabrielle. “I do have plenty of time to wait for my future soulmate.”

“Let’s get back inside to get ready for bed,” said Rosemary as they walked together towards the front door.

---

Lexie was the first to greet the two women as they stepped inside.

“Well, hello, Lexie,” said Gabrielle, as she scratched the dog behind the ears.

“How was your date, grandma?” said Seraphina from the living room, as she watched them come in. She never took off her human disguise, ever.

“Oh, it was fun,” said Rosemary, who went and sat beside her. “What I learned from this research is that it is important for human seniors to start dating after they lose their mate. The reason is because they spend most of their time alone after that. Yet, dating gives them a reason to get out of the house.”

“Oh really,” answered Seraphina. “I never really thought of it that way.”

“It’s quite a bit different of experience than that of your sister’s first date,” said Rosemary.

“Which reminds me,” said Gabrielle, as she dropped into the armchair. “Why did you pay Dante $20 to ask me out?”

Seraphina’s eyes went wide. “He actually told you that?”

“He did. After he refused to kiss me in the Cuddle Cart.”

“I knew he wasn’t that into you,” said Seraphina. “I never understood why you had a crush on him in the first place.”

“I wish I wouldn’t have told you that,” said Gabrielle.

“I did it because I overheard dad and aunt Zaeli telling grandma about their bad experience with double dating, last week” said Seraphina. “So, I thought it would be a good idea for you to go on one too, with her. That’s why I paid Dante the 20 bucks.”

“Well, it a horrible date,” said Gabrielle.

“All because he didn’t kiss you?”

“Yes!” said Gabrielle, as her voice started cracking. “Now, I’m too embarrassed to even show my face in school.”

Gabrielle ran out of the room crying.

Seraphina watched her go, then turned back to the TV with a small shrug. “Well, I’m glad I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Rosemary looked at her youngest granddaughter for a long moment and said nothing.

To be continued....

Double Dates Part 2

Previous | Next

Jewel and Rosemary were the first to finish their breakfast. Jewel went upstairs to train Lexie, and Rosemary went downstairs to analyze some samples.

When Perry finished his breakfast, he went outside to confront the intruder by way of telepathically erasing his memory.

Perry focused, as he drew his consciousness inward. But the pressure built behind his eyes, with a dull ache that spread across his temples. His skin began to tingle, starting at his brain and green energy going to the stranger’s brain. He concentrated harder and searched through the man’s recent memories of aliens.

He pushed deeper as he poured his will into finding that single memory. The pressure in Perry’s skull intensified as he found and erased the stranger’s memory. The man’s eyes glazed over, unfocused, as pastel colors began streaming out of the man’s head, like ribbons of smoke.

As the last of the pastel light dissolved and the memory was gone, Perry released his mental grip and let the green energy fade. He then quickly transformed himself into his human disguise.

“Excuse me,” Perry said sternly. “You’re trespassing on my property.”

“I’m sorry,” the man apologized. “I don’t know what I am doing here in the first place. I’ll just go on my way and leave you alone.”

The man quickly left the St. Crowes alone. Perry was still frustrated at what his mother told him, so he went to the garbage can and kicked it to the ground. Then he put all the trash back in and lifted the can back up before he decided to go back into the house and transform back into his alien form.

---

When he went to the Science/Engineering room downstairs, he found Rosemary already looking at samples on the Chemical Analyzer. He ignored her and went to the robotic station to do some more tinkering.

There was silence between them with only the sounds of Perry’s tinkering in room. But that didn’t last long as Rosemary finished what she was doing and came up to Perry.

“Once again, Vex,” she said. “Don’t forget to fix that Invention Constructor.”

“I promise you that I would, if I knew how.” he answered as the words came out strained.

With that reassurance she left. But the frustration coiled tighter in his chest.

Perry returned to his workbench and reached for a bolt. He raised the hammer to secure it, but then his grip slipped. The metal head struck his own skull with a sickening crack. Suddenly, white-hot pain burst behind his eyes. It radiated down through his neck and shoulders. He cursed and pressed his palm against his temple.

Minutes passed as he worked through the assembly, and tried to lose himself in the familiar motions. But his concentration kept fracturing, as his thoughts, once again, returned to his mother.

He swung the hammer down to secure another piece, and his aim went wild. The hammer hit his skull a second time. The agony radiated through his head, sharper than before. He dropped the hammer and gripped the edge of the workbench.

Minutes later, as he positioned the final bolt, once again his hand jerked involuntarily. The hammer rose and fell, striking his head a third time. He barely felt it through the rage and shame that consumed him.

Perry had built hundreds of robots without any errors. He prided himself on precision, and on being the one his family could depend on. But now he stood there, with his head throbbing and vision blurred.

---

Later that afternoon, Jewel and Perry pulled up to Studio PBP Lounge in Del Sol Valley. The building’s white exterior gleamed in the sunlight, as its large windows reflecting the surrounding palm trees and manicured landscaping. Both siblings stepped out of the car with their dates, Lilith and Bob.

Jewel had chosen this upscale venue deliberately. One of her co-workers, most likely a studio head or a celebrity, had recommended it as the perfect location for dating.

Neither Jewel nor Perry had ever been here before because there was usually a security guard at the front door, but not today. The entrance stood open and welcoming as they approached.

Perry had been in a good mood since his girls came home and he’d given them the talk about not skipping breakfast. He’d have to see tomorrow morning if they kept that promise. But for now, he was focused on his date.

He spotted the redhead from the dating profile and approached her.

“Hello, I’m Perry,” he said. “From Cupid’s Corner. You must be Lilith.”

“Hello,” said Lilith. “And you look like you do in your picture, which is a bonus.”

“True,” said Perry. “Of course, it’s easy to spot a scammer because they want to get you off Cupid’s Corner as soon as possible.”

“I almost fell for a scam doing that,” said Lilith. “The first thing they ask for if you get off the site early is your credit card information. Which I don’t give out.”

“Same here,” said Perry. He saw his sister approaching with her date. “Oh, I forgot. I did mention online that this would be a double date with my sister Jewel and her date.”

“Yes, you did,” said Lilith. “Hi, you must be Perry’s sister.”

“Indeed I am,” responded Jewel. “I’m Jewel, and this is my date Bob.”

“Nice to meet you,” said Bob.

“Nice to meet you too, Bob,” said Perry.

“Who came up with the idea for us to meet here?” asked Lilith.

“I did,” said Jewel, raising her arm. “I work as a Production Manager for one of the major studios here, and my boss suggested this place to me.”

“Have you been here before?” asked Bob.

“I haven’t yet,” answered Jewel.

“Well, why don’t we all go in and have a look inside?” said Perry, already moving toward the entrance.

They walked through the large double doors, Perry and Lilith a step ahead of Jewel and Bob.

---

The interior opened up before them: a white marble floor gleamed beneath their feet, and gold handrails traced the banisters while gold molding accented the walls.

On the left side sat a busy bar lined with four stools. Two fancy white wingback chairs faced one end of the bar, while a love seat occupied the other. At the far end of the room, some empty seats faced a gold and silent microphone.

Despite the elegant emptiness of some corners, the place hummed with activity. People moved through the space with the casual confidence of regulars.

“What do you want to drink?” Perry asked Lilith as they headed toward the bar.

“I’ll have an Espresso Martini,” said Lilith.

“Alright,” Perry answered. “I’ll order some beer for myself then.”

---

Jewel and Bob lingered near the entrance. Jewel had expected a restaurant, but this was something else entirely. She glanced around at the well-dressed crowd moving through the space with practiced ease, and it clicked: this wasn’t about food or entertainment. It was a place where rich people meet and deals happened.

Bob stood transfixed by the architecture, as his eyes traced the gold details and marble surfaces.

“Wow, this place looks like a palace,” said Bob.

“It really does,” said Jewel, with a small smile crossing her face as she took in his genuine wonder.

---

Once Perry and Lilith grabbed their drinks, they settled into the two wingback chairs. Lilith set her Espresso Martini on the floor beside her without hesitation, crossing one leg over the other in a relaxed posture. Perry held his beer loosely in one hand, leaning back slightly.

“Why don’t you tell me more about yourself?” asked Perry. “Other than what I read on your profile?”

Lilith took a sip of her drink and then thought about what she was going to say.

“Well, I’m a student at Britechester right now.” She paused, her expression thoughtful.

“What courses are you taking there?” asked Perry.

“I’m taking General Studies at the moment,” said Lilith. “Because I’m still not entirely sure what I want to do with my life.”

“Well, once you know what course interests you more, then you’ll know for sure,” said Perry.

“I guess,” answered Lilith. “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m an engineer myself,” said Perry. “I work at one of the major engineering firms here in Del Sol Valley.”

“Do you have any kids?” asked Lilith.

“Yes,” answered Perry. “I have two teenage daughters.”

“Oh,” Lilith said quietly. She looked down at her drink for a moment to process that information.

---

Jewel and Bob were sitting on the love seat. Jewel had a glass of purple cosmopolitan in her hand as she drank. Her date, so far had become awkward and there wasn’t much talk between the two of them.

Bob cleared his throat and gestured toward the bar. “The setup here is pretty impressive. Have you ever worked in a place like this?”

“I never have,” Jewel said, glancing around.

“Then how did you get permission to come to this exclusive place?” he asked.

“I thought that I told you that I work as a Production Manager for a film studio,” answered Jewel. “My boss suggested this place as a good first date spot.”

“Right, yeah,” Bob nodded slowly. “That’s cool.”

“What do you do for a living, Bob?” asked Jewel looking at her cosmopolitan.

“I’m a chef at one of the restaurants in Willow Creek,” said Bob, not wanting to talk much.

“What restaurant?” probed Jewel.

“One of the restaurants in Willow Creek,” answered Bob.

“There are a lot of restaurants in Willow Creek,” said Jewel. “Which one is it?”

“You’ll find out later,” was his only answer.

---

Perry and Lilith heard violin music drifting through the lounge. The sound was thin and wavering, more like a child practicing scales than anything resembling a performance. They exchanged a curious glance.

“Do you hear that?” Perry asked.

Lilith tilted her head, listening. “Is that supposed to be a concert?”

“I didn’t know there was going to be one here,” said Perry.

“Neither did I,” answered Lilith.

Perry grinned slightly. “I know that music sounds awful, but why don’t we check out this train wreck anyway?”

Lilith laughed softly, her earlier reservation melting just a bit. “Sure, why not?”

They got up and walked toward the entertainment area. They were both following the wavering violin notes. Once they reached the rows of empty seats, they settled in near the front. The musician continued playing with professional composure despite the awful sound coming from his violin. Perry and Lilith exchanged another glance, as they were both working to keep straight faces.

A moment later, Jewel and Bob arrived and took the seats directly behind them.

After an hour of enduring bad music, the concert finally came to an end. The four of them exchanged knowing glances. But no one had enjoyed it. As people began to disperse, Perry and Lilith agreed it was time to head out. Jewel and Bob did the same.

---

Both siblings said goodbye to their dates at the Lounge and they both went home by car.

Once inside the living room, Perry and Jewel let their human disguises fall away. Their green skin returned, and for the first time all night, they felt like themselves again. Jewel dropped onto the couch with a heavy sigh. Perry stood near the doorway, loosening his shoulders.

“How was your date with Bob, Zaeli?” asked Perry.

“It was terrible,” she answered. “He didn’t say much. He didn’t even mention which restaurant he worked as a chef in. How was your date with Lilith?”

“It was okay,” he answered. “But I think because of the age gap, there was no connection between us.”

“I also learned not to trust my boss in suggesting places to date,” said Jewel. “So what have you learned so far that you’re going to put into this research in human social behaviors.”

“Like regular human mating rituals, called dating, it’s more complicated to connect with the other person,” answered Perry.

“I was thinking the same thing, Vex,” said Jewel.

To be continued...

Double Dates Part 1

Next |

It’s morning in Del Sol Valley, and Rosemary St. Crowe is walking her dog Lexie around the neighborhood. She feels the cool air on her disguised human skin and has grown to appreciate this autumn stillness.

In her research of Human Social Behavior here on earth, she found that owning a dog does a lot of good in a human’s psyche. So, she and her family decided to adopt Lexie. Owning a dog, however, proved to be a steep learning curve.

Back in Sixam, no one owned dogs or had even heard of them. Her birth name was Zara. She had to change it to Rosemary when she and her family landed here to do their research. Of course, part of their research was to become human.

But before she came, she was married to an alien named Zarf, and they had two children. Zarf died of an illness before they boarded the spaceship here. So that left her, her son Vex (Perry), his wife Theralis (Aurora), and her daughter Zaeli (Jewel), to do the research here.

They first settled in Strangerville, where the humans living there seemed strange and possessed by something connected to a secret military base in town. When Rosemary and Theralis investigated it, they discovered the source was the Motherplant, an alien species that terrified them both.

During those investigations, Theralis had become more than just her daughter-in-law. They were more like sisters who bonded over this.

Unfortunately, when they were looking into the weirdness in Strangerville, one of the Scientists secretly found out that her family were aliens. When that same person saw Rosemary and Theralis, he immediately raised his weapon. The stingray gun fired with a sound that would haunt Rosemary forever. The gun killed Theralis instantly.

That moment froze in Rosemary’s mind in perfect and terrible clarity. The scream caught in her throat, unable to escape. The helplessness that flooded through her as she watched her son’s wife fall. However, she had to run for her life in order not to be killed.

At that time, Rosemary’s granddaughters, Selorath (Gabrielle) and Selannis (Seraphina), were children when their mother died. She remembers Perry’s face when she told him. The way his eyes went hollow, the way his entire body seemed to collapse inward as if the news had physically struck him. And both her granddaughters’ small faces crumpled with a grief they couldn’t yet understand.

Rosemary, Perry, and Jewel made the decision to move to Del Sol Valley. But not just to escape government authorities. They moved because Rosemary made a promise to Theralis’s memory. She would give those girls a chance at life without all that horror.

Both granddaughters were teenagers now, and Rosemary worried more about Selannis than Selorath. The latter was doing well in school and still wanted to know where she came from. Selannis, however, wanted none of it. She preferred to be called Seraphina or Sera and wanted nothing to do with her alien heritage, and there was nothing Rosemary could do to stop her.

Trying to shake off the heavy thoughts, Rosemary focused back on the path ahead. Further along, a sleek black car sat parked on the side of the road. It was the kind of expensive vehicle that announced itself without making a sound. Rosemary looked at it for a moment, thinking about how Del Sol Valley was a city full of people who only cared about how much wealth they had.

The city, itself, was a major filmmaking hub. It was known more for its human celebrities, money, and status more than anything else. It was an environment where who you knew mattered most, in order to get to the top. Yet, it was easy for Zaeli to blend in and get a human job as a Production Manager for a major motion studio.

Rosemary and Lexie walked a bit farther, but then she decided to turn around.

“Let’s go back home, Lexie,” she said to the small dog. “You must be hungry by now. I sure am myself.”

---

Back in the St. Crowe resident basement, Perry, also known as Vex to the family, was in the family science/engineering room staring into a giant microscope, as his jaw clenched tight with frustration.

He tried to fix the Invention Constructor again. But, the damned thing refused to activate, no matter what he did. His mother wanted him to fix it. However, Perry was no scientist. He was an engineer in both alien and human worlds.

All of a sudden, Perry’s smartphone rang. He grabbed it from a nearby table and looked at the screen. It was Copperdale High School. His heart hammered against his ribs. Schools don’t call unless something is wrong. What did they do? What did they say? He breathed a stressful sigh because he knew that one of his daughters was in trouble.

“Hello, is this the St. Crowe residence?” answered a professional female voice. “I’m Principal Lily from Copperdale High.”

“Yes,” he answered. “I am the father of Gabrielle and Seraphina St. Crowe. Which of them is in trouble right now?”

“Well, one of our staff found Gabrielle in one of the bathroom stalls eating a sandwich,” said the woman whose tone was measured, but with an undercurrent of concern. “We’re not too sure what they make of this.”

“The girls were probably in a rush to go to school, that they forgot to eat breakfast,” he said. “I’ll have a talk with both of them about the importance of eating breakfast when they get home. For now I’ll let it slide.”

“I don’t think you understand,” said the principal, her voice taking on a sharper edge. “The concern might be more serious than that. Gabrielle’s behavior was... unusual. We’d like to discuss this further.”

“I’ll talk to both of them about it later,” said Perry. “Thank you very much Principal Lily.”

---

Upstairs, Jewel (Aka Zaeli) was setting the table for her mother, brother, and herself to eat breakfast. Both of her nieces already left for school without eating anything. A knot of worry tightened in her chest as she arranged the plates on the table. How could they focus in class on empty stomachs?

But despite the worry, Jewel was in high spirits today, and she was now sitting at the table waiting for her mother to return and help her cook.

But she didn’t have to wait for long, because her mother came back with Lexie.

Rosemary stepped through the kitchen doorway with Lexie at her side. The moment the door closed behind them, she let out a long and relieved breath. Her shoulders dropped as she unclipped Lexie’s leash. Then, her skin darkened from peachy beige to deep green, as the false features dissolving as her true alien face emerged.

“I’m back,” she said, as there was genuine warmth in her voice as she looked at her daughter.

Jewel moved toward the kitchen to grab the ingredients, and Rosemary followed close behind.

“Mother, I need to tell you something,” Jewel said, as her voice carried an edge of exasperation. “The girls skipped breakfast again this morning.”

“You mean the girls went to school hungry again?” asked Rosemary.

“Yes,” answered Jewel.

“Perry should talk to them,” said Rosemary. “After all, he is their father. But if they do it again, I’m going to be the one talking to them.”

“I don’t know if they will listen to you or Vex,” said Jewel. “They’re what humans call teenagers after all. You know, the transition from childhood to adult.”

“And all the conflicting emotions that come with that age group,” said Rosemary. “I know.”

---

They continued cooking until both finished, and then grabbed their plates. Perry joined a few minutes later.

“Good morning, Vex,” said Rosemary.

“Good morning, mother,” answered Perry. “I did get a call from Principal Lily this morning. Apparently, a staff member saw Gabrielle, or should I say Selorath, eating a sandwich in the bathroom.”

“Does she know that’s unsanitary?” asked Rosemary.

“She knows, mother,” answered Perry. “But both Selorath and Selannis need to wake up early and not be on their phones. They need to eat breakfast before going to school. I told the Principal that I will have a talk with both of them about it when they get home.”

“You should,” said Rosemary. “If they do this again, I will have a talk with them myself.”

“Please don’t do that,” said Perry. “You’re not their mother.”

“But I am their grandmother,” answered Rosemary. “This is my house, and they have to obey my rules.”

Perry exhaled slowly, as the weight of the words settling on his shoulders like a familiar burden.

“Whatever,” said Perry. He knew his mother would never step aside in the parenting department.

“Vex, have you fixed the Invention Constructor?” asked Jewel.

“I thought that I did fix it,” answered Perry. “But it still won’t work.”

“What do you mean, it still won’t work?” asked Rosemary. “We need that to work as soon as possible. We need it to make Simrays to protect ourselves from the human military.”

Perry’s jaw tightened, as his hands gripped the edge of the table.

“I know, mother,” he said, as his words came out carefully controlled. “But I’m an engineer and not a scientist.”

“So, what does that have to do with fixing the Constructor?” Rosemary’s tone sharpened with urgency.

“I tried to fix it.” His voice cracked slightly with frustration he could no longer hide. “I’ve tried everything I know. I’ve checked every circuit, every power source, and every connection. But I don’t know why it’s not turning on. We’ll have to go back to Sixam to find a scientist to do that.”

Rosemary opened her mouth to respond, but Jewel interrupted. “Mother.”

She turned to her daughter, even though Perry could see the worry still etched in her features.

“Yes, dear?” said Rosemary.

“You told us that we should do some more research on human social behavior. Perry and I have found another way to do that,” said Jewel.

“And what are you two going to do?” asked Rosemary.

“Both of us are going to, what humans would call a double date,” said Jewel.

“What is a double date?” asked Rosemary.

“It’s the same as what humans would call a date,” said Jewel. “But instead of just two people dating, it’s four. And people would bring a friend or a family member and their dates to this.”

“So it’s another form of a mating ritual,” said Rosemary.

“Sort of,” said Jewel. “But I think that you should try going on one yourself.”

“Why me?” asked Rosemary. “Isn’t dating, mating, and getting married for young people?”

“Not in the human world anymore,” said Jewel. “You can date at any age nowadays. There are humans in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who start dating after they were widowed or divorced. And I’ve heard from my human co-workers that elders can do that too. You should give it a try.”

“How do human seniors start dating?” asked Rosemary.

“The same way that the younger humans do. Through the internet, in what the humans would call a dating site,” said Jewel. “One of the most popular ones is called Cupid’s Corner.”

“I should go check that one out, then,” said Rosemary.

“You should,” said Jewel. “But for tonight, let Perry and I do it.”

“So, that means that I have to lecture Selorath and Selannis,” said Rosemary.

“No, you won’t, mother,” answered Perry. “I’ll do that before we go.”

Perry looked outside the window and saw a bald man looking at them.

“There’s someone looking at us through the window,” said Perry.

Rosemary turned her back and looked at the same window.

“This is why we need that Invention Constructor,” she said. “This human could work for the government.”

Perry was getting a little frustrated with his mother.

“Once I finish breakfast, I’ll go outside to erase his memory. Then we’ll figure out the Constructor,” he said.

To be continued...

I am still writing Nothing Like the Jones. I am trying to make these stories as short as possible, but it's hard.

However, there is going to be a new story poll after this one.

AND...

I don't know if I should blog here about the next story that I will be playing and working on.

All I can tell you about is that this ongoing series is a fan favorite. It's going to have one brand new character mixed into all this drama. And this might be a little long. That's because I have three or four different subplots (Or one main plot and two or three separate subplots). I need to take some time setting up and playing this story. I will be using two popular mods for this. But one of them I have never used before.