a sim blog

This spring has been a quiet one in Bluewater Village. For the most part, the residents are simply living their lives. 

Cori Delarosa gets her first kiss from an older man, her father’s bandmate, David Ottomas. What will Robin think when he finds out what his daughter and his best friend have been up to?

After some scary pre-term cramping and contractions, Hannah Landgraab and her husband, Malcolm Landgraab V, give birth to a baby girl named Olivia Landgraab.

The Village Chronicle, Spring 3

Landgraab Enterprises Acquires Corner Shop; BV Readies Itself for Holiday Spirit

The Corner Shop, which has been empty for the last three years, was purchased this week by Landgraab Enterprises. The sale marks the first acquisition under the leadership of Landgraab Enterprises’s newest CEO and President, Malcolm Landgraab V.

The Shop, which opens this summer, will sell Christmas and holiday-themed décor, from pumpkins of all sizes to menorahs to Christmas trees. Though it is only spring, Bluewater Village residents are ready to welcome the holiday cheer.

With both Martina Delarosa and Robin Tinker out of the picture, Sharla Ottomas and Jessie Knight are free to reunite in marriage. They host a small vowel renewal ceremony at the house, which Sharla promptly moves back into, sacrificing her rent-free stay at the mayoral residence. She decides she doesn’t care. She’s at a stage in her life where her career matters less to her than her husband, Jessie, and their son, Harlo.

“A deal was made. I have come to collect my debts.”

“What debt? I don’t owe you any debt!”

After sparing Malcolm Landgraab V’s (pathetic) life, the Grim Reaper and Malcolm Sr. agreed that a life could only be paid for with a life. And Malcolm Jr. isn’t the only living child of Malcolm Sr., after all.

“Leave him. Move in with me. You think I’m a criminal? There’s no worse criminal in the world than a Landgraab. I have as much money as him, and it doesn’t come with strings--I won’t own you, I won’t control you, I’ll give you everything I have and all you have to worry about is which housekeeper will be bringing you your next drink by the pool. You’re Bonnie, I’m Clyde, and I’m offering you freedom like you’ve never had freedom before.

“I want you, Tessa. I want you, and I usually get what I want.” 

§5,000 blind date: “You know, I really don’t like men with brown hair.”

§5,000 blind date: “Please stop trying to flirt with me, thanks.”

“Mom, I don’t want to do this.”

“Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do, Malcolm. We each must make sacrifices to be part of this family. You don’t think I’ve sacrificed?”

“Can you talk to Dad? Can you explain my point of view? Please, Mom. I don’t know what else to do.”

“Your father wouldn’t listen to me if I tried.” 

“Are your house parties always this wild, Dad?”

“It’s so cool that you get to make music for a living. Hey, no reason, but is that lead guitarist single or...?” 

Law & Gossip - Episode 2

Good morning, Bluewater Village! From The Village Chronicle, I’m Jessie Knight, and welcome back to Law and Gossip–the podcast where we take a look at the juicer side of local legislation.

This week’s guest is none other than Tessa Landgraab, of the infamous Landgraab dynasty. Tessa is City Planner and director of the Bluewater Real Estate Office. She’s here today to discuss her new condominium complex, Moroccan Manors, as well as speak more about the REO’s failed appeals for looser anti-trust laws. For context, the current law prohibits corporations from owning in excess of four commercial real estate deeds.

JK: Tessa, welcome! This is exciting. I’ve been trying to get you on the podcast for a while now. 

TL: (laughs) The press people at the Landgraab Enterprises gave you the runaround, I’m sure.

JK: You can say that. You’re a hard woman to get ahold of. I have an easier time getting politicians on the record.

TL: Probably helps that your married to the mayor, no?

JK: That’s a very good point. Fair point.

TL: Congratulations on that, by the way. Your marriage--or should I say remarriage? Oh, and congrats on the recent Gootentaugen.

JK: Thank you, thank you. I appreciate you slipping that in there. My editors wanted the award pasted somewhere, but I didn’t think starting the podcast, “I’m Jessie Knight, Gootentaugen-winning journalist,” was subtle enough.

TL: Ha-ha.

JK: Okay, okay. Let’s get down to business. We’re here to talk about Moroccan Manors--what a whirlwind! One minute it was dead in the street, the next it was all-systems-go. The anonymous donor that saved the project--I assume you know who it is?

TL: Yes, I know who it is. We’ll call him a dear friend.

JK: People are talking, you know. People have their suspicious. Might it be that wealthy young fellow who was the first to move into your new condo building?

TL: Come on, Jess, you know I can’t confirm or deny that.

JK: Humor me for a moment. Let’s say it was Evan Ottomas. He’s my brother-in-law, you know, so I don’t want to be too disparaging toward him, but...his sister is the major and his brother is the head of the police force. He has no obvious income source of his own. How is he affording the lease?

TL: The Real Estate Office doesn’t ask for the precise details. All we need to grant a lease application is either an employer statement or bank statement. Obviously, he had one or the other. He’s a very private man. He probably doesn’t appreciate his name being brought up in this conversation, given he’s nothing more than a resident in my building.

JK: Okay, again, fair enough. So. I can only assume that your change of heart about coming on this podcast has something do with your recent divorce. It’s been the story dominating the headlines--the first divorce in the history of the Landgraab dynasty--but you’ve been quiet on the subject. Was that part of the settlement agreement?

TL: Yes and no. Obviously, there’s a settlement agreement--the Landgraabs have a lot of assets to protect, and the best protection is silence. But it’s not particularly fun to speak of divorce, you know? Malcolm was very generous to me, especially as I was getting my career underway, and I loved him; I thought I’d be married to him for the rest of my life.

JK: Are you still living in the Landgraab Estate or have you moved into your new building?

TL: No comment.

JK: Some people think your office’s appeal for looser anti-monopoly legislation--which would allow corporations like Landgraab Enterprises to buy up Bluewater Village’s community lots--was your ex-husband’s doing. Some people have called you a puppet. 

TL: Some people see a powerful man and a smiling wife and, yes, immediately scream, “Puppet!”

JK: But the Real Estate Office has stopped lobbying on this issue.

TL: Major Ottomas-Knight has not been friendly to my office’s interests. Looser anti-monopoly legislation would fund new building projects and bolster the local economy.

JK: So...you’ll try again when a new major is elected. Is that that what you’re saying?

The Village Chronicle, Winter 3

BV REO Vetos Luxury Condominiums; Private Investment Secured

The Bluewater Real Estate Office vetoed a proposal from City Planner Tessa Landgraab for a §150,000 luxury condo complex to be built in the downtown area of Bluewater Village. A spokesperson for the Real Estate Office stated that the treasury did not have enough funds to finance the proposal of its director, and the mayor’s office was unwilling to borrow against the SimCity federal bank.

The Real Estate Office announced this end of Moroccan Manors, but shortly after the decision was made publicly, a private, anonymous donor put up over §60,000 to fund the proposal. “I’m grateful,” said Tessa Landgraab. “This design is my baby, my legacy, and I know Bluewater Village will love the additional housing options.”

Construction began in late fall, and the first resident, Evan Ottomas--brother of Mayor Sharla Ottomas and Police Chief Thomas Ottomas--moved in early this winter. He called the design “sophisticated,” and said there is nothing else like it in the neighborhood. 

Robin Tinker comes sniffing around hoping that he can make up to Sharla for his betrayal. But Sharla has decided she wants nothing more to do with Robin anymore--though she once considered him the love of her life. 

Shortly after, she is thrilled to discover that her romp in the hot tub with her ex-husband resulted in pregnancy, and she gives birth to a baby boy named Harlo. 

Late one night, Sharla invites Jessie over to the mayoral residence to talk about where their relationship stands after Robin Tinker’s housewarming party. One touch leads to another, and suddenly they find themselves in her hot tub together. Meanwhile--

Martina Delarosa was surprised but thrilled when Jessie Knight asked her and her kids to move in with him. Their relationship has been going well and seems to good to be true--and perhaps is, given how fresh his divorce is. 

In the wake of his son’s botched suicide attempt, Malcolm Landgraab IV decides that he’ll need to secure the next heir’s mother if he wants to secure the future for Landgraab Enterprises. 

He detests his son’s girlfriend, Roxie Sharpe, and has always wanted his son to settle down with Hannah Tinker, who owns a business that the family can absorb into their empire. But Hannah isn’t motivated by money or power, and she’s not interested in being the next Mrs. Landgraab. He invites her to meet with him in his private office at the Estate so he can figure out what does motivate her.

“You don’t have to love my son,” he promises. “You don’t even have to be faithful to him. In fact, you can sleep with whomever you want--just don’t bring them into the house, and don’t let your private affairs turn up in any of the papers.”

“Is that your arrangement with your wife?” she sneers.

“I love Tessa. My wife is loyal, but docile. She knows a good opportunity when she sees one.” He leans back in his chair, observing the young woman across from him down the length of his nose. “But I can see you’re not motivated by any of this. You have your own money. Do you know what my money can buy that your money can’t? My money has connections. My money can make its way into the hands of private investigators, people with access to private medical records. Your parents--”

“What do you know about my parents?”

“I know they’re not your real parents, and I know that you’ve always had questions. I know, deep down, you’d really, really like to know who your biological parents are and why they gave you up.

Malcolm Landgraab V is tired of the constant familial pressure and his parents’ puppeteering of his life. He didn’t choose to be born a Landgraab, but he can choose to delete himself from the family line. He decides to stop eating--but when the Grim Reaper at last shows up to cart him off to the afterlife, his father intervenes. 

Malcolm Landgraab IV isn’t going to watch everything he worked so hard to build get flushed down the drain because of his son’s weaknesses. He strikes a deal with the Grim Reaper that brings his son back to life.

During a housewarming party at the band, the OttoTink’s, new bachelor pad, Robin Tinker found himself in bed with the notorious Shannon Garth--ex-wife of Gilbert Jacquet and resident troublemaker, having most recently been caught in the bed of Samantha Ottomas’s husband.

The problem is: Robin has declared his love for Sharla and made a promise to commit. His betrayal sends her straight into the arms of her ex-husband, Jessie Knight. 

The next problem: Jessie Knight has already moved on--and moved in, inviting his girlfriend, Martina Delarosa, and her twin children to move into the house that he once shared with his ex-wife.