New Mortina Life

New Mortina life

Little finger prints can be seen on the windows, toys are found in the strangest corners, noises come from the bassinet at all hours. Yes, the Mortina Line is extended! The messy family tree is messier still! The beautiful Adrianna and handsome Lancelot are the very proud parents of a little boy, Josiah. His shock of auburn hair make him look like many Mortina toddlers that can be seen in the family photographs. As the Sims Mobile shops limit the choices of toddler clothes, he looks identical to uncles, great uncles and great great uncles when they were his age. He is a lovely, happy boy, adored by his parents, who make sure he is having lots of Good Upbringing opportunities.

“He will do well” says a proud and assured Lancelot, when watching his son toddle round the house. “He might even be the one to carry on the family line. I’m looking forward to see him grow, and turn into a handsome young man!”

Knowing the speed with which children grow in Sims Mobile, it’s a fact that Lancelot won’t have to wait too long! In fact, the bassinet has been in use again, only to be abandoned for an incredibly short time. Another offspring of Lancelot and his beautiful Adrianna? Nope, not this time. This time it’s the heir of Guinevere and her kind husband, Sebastian. Who, in spite of his kindness and generous spirit, still carries the surname Brooks. Guinevere is actually loosing some of her twinkle, her eyes growing larger by the day. Not that it really hinders her popularity, she is still beautiful, her eyes still eye catching, but her family notices.

It started just before her baby was born. Lancelot and Adrianna pretended not to notice the heated arguments, and glares that came from green eyes that had only sparkled before now. They noticed the coolness between Guinevere and Sebastian, and when Adrianna spent some time with Guinevere during one of the Luxurious Lifestyle quests, Guinevere admitted that Sebastian was adamant that he didn’t want to change his surname. “It’s all to do with his age,” groaned Guinevere, “he insists on his own name at his age, saying that as all his traits are full, he doesn’t want the hassle of changing all the paperwork! I explained to him how important it is, and that it’s easy to be done, and actually can be used for the Daily List, but he won’t budge!”

Lancelot and Adrianna felt sorry for Guinevere, as it was obvious that to her it was a massive deal. Then the baby was born, a little boy. He did get a chance for a Good Upbringing star, which was great. Lancelot asked Guinevere and Sebastian what they would name the boy.

“His name is Chris,” said an extremely determined sounding Guinevere. Lancelot raised one neat eyebrow at his sister. He wondered about her tone of voice, so unlike her normal upbeat one she has polished in the nightclub.

“I like it,” Adrianna jumped in quickly, seeing the eyebrow, and wondering what was going on, “it suits the little boy, I’m sure!”

“Yes,” said Guinevere, looking straight at Lancelot, “it suits him perfectly. You see, he is the one who will undo a grave injustice committed in this family in the past. My son will put things straight.”

Well, what on earth was that all about? Lancelot looks at Adrianna, who looks as blank as only a lawyer who hasn’t got the facts can look. Then he looks at Sebastian, who looks very uncomfortable, but still tries to smile his kind smile, digging deep for his best bedside manners. What has gotten into Guinevere?

Lancelot and Adrianna talk about it in their room that evening. As Adrianna works at the Court she agrees to do some digging through the family documents, searching for the name Chris. Lancelot can’t remember having heard the name at all, and he wonders if Guinevere has just gone off her rocker, and made things up. “We’re only the seventh generation,” he says, still sounding bewildered, “how can there be an ancestor called Chris? Maybe she means Great granny’s sister Christine? But then, what would she mean with the ‘grave injustice’ committed to her? I really don’t get this, and it’s too late to think now, I need to get to he studio to finish my long shift.”

The very next day, as soon as Adrianna finishes the Luxury Event, she rushes back to the office to do some quick research before starting her short shifts. She finds the thick Mortina folder, looks at the papers inside, and, trying not to get overwhelmed with the amount of names, starts scanning the pages. Great, most of them had at least three children, she groans. Why not just one or two, just to keep the line going… Then she smiles, and rubs her own growing belly, and sighs in acceptance of others.

She soon finds the Christine that Lancelot mentioned, the daughter of Melany, the daughter of Marie Anne, the daughter of Ricardo and Danielle, the first of all Mortinas. She then looks more closely at Christine’s record, and gasps! Christine’s husband’s name was Chris! She keeps reading, searching for the ‘grave injustice’.

“She married Chris from the restaurant (the restaurant workers obviously make for good spouses, there is quite a few I’ve heard of in just this family alone!) and they have three children, a daughter Sophia, the second one already in this family,” mutters Arianna whilst following lines with her well shaped fingernails, “ah, they have a son, Joshua, and oh, another son, Daniel. Now, who marries who and moves….ah, oh dear, I think I have just spotted the ‘grave injustice’. Their line ends right here! None of them is ever acknowledged, no more mention of them anywhere!

So what happened to the house then? Let me see, bla bla, payment, moving in papers, oops, another restaurant worker, Ashton Sweeney, married to Abigail. That was Christine’s sister, they have children, yes, here we are, Gabriella, mmmm, THE Gabriella I presume and another daughter Alicia. Yes, Gabriella marries, oh guess what, restaurant worker Zachery, here’s Joash, my father in law. Oh dear, well, at least Lancelot has his answer I guess. Abigail and her offspring carried the line, with no mention of Christine and Chris who were sharing the house at that time. Now, let’s jump into my blue suit, and get started. ‘Guide graciously’ is the theme for today, I think!”

That evening Adrianna tells Lancelot about her findings. He looks at her, without saying anything. Then he sighs, and looks incredibly sad. “You know what that means?” he asks, “she is determined that her little Chris will take over the house, the Line. Well, this is a pretty kettle of fish! What are we to do?” and he looks pointedly at her shapely tummy…not shapely as in trim and what not, but shapely as in growing every day it seems. Adrianna smiles her most efficient smile, “Well, we’re not there yet, nothing needs to be done, as far as I understand. After all, the decision is still years away, and who knows what our family will look like by then!”

So life just moves on, and the subject of injustice, or Great granny’s sister is never brought up again, but Adrianna catches Lancelot looking at their sweet Josiah with a special look, a look which doesn’t change or improve when their sweet Tabitha is born. He just can’t resist the poke at his sister, “Many Mortina girls have carried the Line…Interesting to have a son AND a daughter…!”

He immediately regrets his words as Guinevere flees the room in tears. Lancelot is stunned, what is wrong with his happy, bouncy DJ sister? The hippie in the family so to speak. He looks at Adrianna, who slightly shakes her head, to indicate that she won’t talk about things in front of Sebastian, wo is still in the room. As soon as the door shuts behind Sebastian she explains. “I heard them last night, Guinevere wants another child, Sebastian doesn’t. He feels he is too old, in fact, with all traits achieved he might receive his retirement papers any moment now. Guinevere argued that all Mortinas have large families. I felt so sad for her, I hope she will be alright…”

This is sad indeed, and over time Guinevere seems to get sadder and sadder, and also, it looks as if she wants to constantly remind everyone, but especially Sebastian, of the fact that she is still young and hip and cool… Where will all this end?

Weddings

Weddings all round!

The day dawned bright and early for Lancelot, which came as a shock in itself. Today is hopefully going to be one of the best days in his life! A special party has been arranged, and everything has been planned ahead for him to meet some one special. He tries not to think about how organised it all has been, worried that Guinevere might find out, and look at him with those green eyes dancing. He realises how it must sound, which is why he hasn’t made a sound! Guinevere is not to know, nor his parents, for that matter. Arranged marriages sound so dreadful and hyper efficient and ancient. It conjures up images of interfering parents whose only aim in life was to either preserve their estate or to enhance it.

This is nothing like that. Nothing at all, but still, it’s better to explain much, much later how the party came about. The party! He actually feels wobbly inside, and he wonders briefly whether he is actually making a mistake. After all, turning up at a friend’s party, all smiley, handing out stickers to all sorts of people you have never met, all with just one purpose in mind. The Girl.

It was surprisingly easy to set up, he muses, whilst slipping into his suit. We’ll set a time for a party, you turn up, find the girl in question, chat her up, and Bob’s your Uncle. Apart from he isn’t. Many things in life don’t go as expected, or hoped for, or wished for, or even arranged! Especially in Sims Mobile, where the powers that be have a lot of power, and do some random things. Like cancel parties, or refuse to supply the right moving in papers. Lancelot sighs, the day ahead seems overwhelming, and he wonders if it’s really worth the stress.

He has seen her name, Adrianna. It rolls around his head and rolls of his tongue easily in his thoughts. You see, that is something else that could jeopardise the whole thing. Her name, or more precisely, his tongue. What if he mispronounces it, or after all the practise in his head says it with the wrong feeling? What will she be like, anyway? Will she be washed out looking, like one of the wives of his great great grandparents relations? The one that got cheated on… Or will she be wearing clothes that give you migraines because of their constant flashing?  He sighs, this is really getting out of hand.

Time to run through the mental list: do I want to find a wife? Yes. Are any of the co-workers in Sims Mobile eligible at the moment? Nope, they’re all old. So, therefore, this party invite is perfect, Adrianna sounds wonderful and lively and interesting. So, let’s do this!

His tie is straight by this time, shoes shine, Lancelot looks one more time in the mirror, and off he strides, purposefully, out of the house. He arrives at the party, he looks round with a worried air at all the people, the hot tub, the garden…and the first person he meets is called…Adrianna! The sight of her takes his breath away, she is amazing! She is wearing a fairy outfit, with beautiful glossy auburn hair, and she smiles! He cannot believe it, all his worries disappear like snow on a summer’s day! She has a beautiful smile, her grey blue eyes sparkle with life, complimented by blue rimmed glasses. He feels his own smile getting wider and wider, and fleetingly worries that he will end up looking like the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland… But here is Adrianna, and all other thoughts are left behind.

Well, he thinks later, much later in fact, I could just say, The Rest was History, but wow, what history it was! He thinks about their dates, the first one in the little café, the romantic meals at the restaurant, the dancing at home, the long Wedding… He just feels giddy with happiness. He looks across the room at his near-perfect wife, wearing a simple yet incredibly elegant blue dress, matching earrings, shoes, glasses….Adrianna is definitely about the details, he grins to himself. No wonder she is doing so well at her job!

The wedding seems forever ago, although the day itself will never be forgotten! Adrianna moved into the Mortina home, fully accepted by Guinevere. In fact, Guinevere seemed pleased to spend time with Adrianna. Lancelot and Adrianna take over the front bedroom, with the special Honeymoon bed, and soon the ancient family bassinet was in use! His cup is brimming over with happiness. The most gorgeous wife, and now also a little baby boy, Josiah. Watching Adrianna feeding him, and cooing at him makes his heart melt. He hadn’t realise that he was still grinning in her direction, until she looks at him with those amazing eyes, and sweet smile, “You look like you’re a happy man?”

“I am! The happiest in the long and complex line of Mortinas!” he laughs. “I was just counting my blessings, and as ever, I count you twice…” She rolls her eyes, as he knew she would, and laughs her melodious laugh.

“You’re the sweetest man ever, and a great flatterer…it get’s you nowhere with me, you know!” She rolls her eyes, “It might work with the lady I work with, Miss Mutton-Dressed-as-Lamb, Skyler Miner. She is awful, really judges people based on appearances, not realising that at her age dying your fringe pink is no longer cool, but sad!”

They both look serious at that, as it is such a tragic thing, and potentially disastrous for somebody. Adrianna works in the Court office with Skyler, and they do have to be so careful in how they advise people. Their advice could potentially ruin somebody, and Skyler is definitely a disaster waiting to happen.

“Is there still no word about her retirement?” he asks. “It seems that all offices in Sims Mobile are waiting for papers to come through. Could there be a strike up at the EA offices? Somebody on holiday who didn’t leave clear instructions? Wherever I go, and whoever I talk to, it seems that all shops and businesses have senior staff, and then I don’t mean Senior in rank or experience, merely in birthday candles…!”

The both look around rather awkwardly at that, as Guinevere has recently married a man who definitely has more candles on his cake than her…! He is very, very nice though. His name is Sebastian, she met him at a party very soon after Lancelot met Adrianna! Turns out that they both decided to go down the arranged marriage route, although from what Guinevere told him, her arrangement almost fell flat, thanks to Sims Mobile government officials! There was apparently a moment of panic when Sebastian couldn’t attend her party as arranged, but fortunately they managed to make other arrangements. In fact, Guinevere always boasts that she was actually the very first person to arrive at the party! Who’d have guessed that Guinevere would go for arranged marrage! Probably working with an ancient DJ colleague did it for her, Lancelot grins slyly to himself. He is very pleased for his sister though.

Sebastian looks a bit older, has blond hair, which makes him stand out in the Mortina household, and a very kind, good natured face. Guinevere and Sebastian only just got married, in fact, they are still debating over surnames. Guinevere is quite desperate to have the Mortina name, as she is still hoping that she and Sebastian might have a child who could inherit the Mortina Name. They have left it, however, as Sebastian was under a lot of stress. He struggled to find a job, and ended up working at the offices downtown. It was obvious that he hated it, he looked so unhappy!

Just a few weeks ago an opening came up in the local Mobile hospital, and Sebastian got accepted. He was thrilled, and his mood has improved! The change is enormous, helped maybe by the beard he has grown. “I just had to keep explaining that yes, I am definitely old enough to be taking charge!” he laughed, his hearty laugh bouncing round the newly painted walls. “I jut find people somehow take me more seriously with a beard. Aren’t people sad?!” Again that laugh, which in itself makes you feel better! No wonder he is such a successful and sought after doctor, thinks Lancelot, smiling at his brother in law. Unbelievable, both of us happily married, doing our very best to keep the Inheritance going! How thrilling to be part of making History!

Baby Josiah has started a new generation, Joash and Christie are still around, there is a special Events week on in Sims Mobile… Life is busy, and full and good…whatever next?

 

 

Lancelot and Guinevere, his sister!

Lancelot looks round the house that is now his own home. He grew up in it, of course, but that is totally different from being the one to keep the Mortina line going. That is, if he finds a wife. And soon! He is the representative of the seventh generation, no way is he going to be the last!

Time in Sims Mobile moves fast, and it isn’t easy to find a wife that will get permission to move in. To make matters even more complex, his sister Guinevere has shared responsibility. He groans when he thinks her name. Whatever were his parents thinking, giving them all Arthurian names, apart from his eldest sister, Genevieve, which sounds as if it should be Arthurian anyway! Having a sister called Guinevere, and an older brother named Arthur made for some very awful jokes when he was younger, and smaller, and physically weaker. And as for his little sister Morganna, well, his parents obviously didn’t read the King Arthur stories very carefully…!

He is actually a very handsome young man, with the Mortina auburn hair, a small beard, broad shoulders, and straight back. He has dreamy eyes which look just a wee sad, but that just adds to his charm. He is neatly dressed, and catches your eyes with his good looks and aura of friendliness.

Guinevere also has the trades mark auburn hair, in a ponytail, green eyes smiling away at the world. She is tall, like her brother, but much slighter, which make her legs seem endless. Guinevere loves to dress in different styles and colours, and fortunately Sims Mobile has provided them with several options, although some at great costs! She just got the key to the family home as well, and found herself a job soon after. “I’m the new DJ,” she grins at Lancelot, “together with some old guy who has been there for centuries it seems!”

“All staff in this town seems to have forgotten to fill in their retirement papers,” grumbles Lancelot, “I hope it’s not going to be like that all our lives? I would love to meet someone, you know, go to the restaurant for a meal with someone younger than 86!”

They share a look, and Lancelot rolls his eyes. It’s no secret that he has absolutely no patience for older people. In fact, it was his grumbling, and covert comments that made his grandparents move into the retirement home before they actually were made to! Guinevere felt bad about that…

“I know what you mean, but working with someone old is different than living with them, you know, especially your own family.” She looks at Lancelot’s proud face, and sighs, yes, he is handsome and he knows it. She loves him though, although somewhere deep down she can feel annoyance bubbling away. She loves her grandparents, and now she will miss out on Family Events with them.

“Don’t try to send me into a guilt trip, just because Gran and Grandpa moved out! You know they preferred their own apartment, and anyway, our house was getting ridiculously crowded.” He sulks, something he has down to a fine art, it seems.

“Don’t sulk too long, you’ll get wrinkles in the wrong place, and my children will evict you,” says Guinevere pointedly, knowing that his will make his mad.

She is right, it works, the sulk is replaced by a fierce scowl. They both know how hard it can be to find a spouse, and they are absolutely determined that their spouse will be on the Family record, which means that they have to have a moving in permit. They know about the previous generations who were so desperate that they got married without a permit in sight. They are aware of how much trouble and heartache that caused, so just like their grandparents Gabriella and Zachery, and their parents Joash and Christie, Guinevere and Lancelot are both determined to do things the right way.

“I have already got a party invite, dear sister, so don’t you worry about children and evictions, etcetera,” he says with only a little bit of a nasty smile. He may be proud, and he may not like the fact that they have to share the house, and probably endure more King Arthur jokes, but he is really very fond of his sister Guinevere. Lancelot is also very kind, and having his grandparents actually move out was quite a shock to him. He does love them, he just never realised that they were taking his ageist jokes seriously. It has taught him to be more guarded in his words, as he truly hates grieving people.

Lancelot also found a job, as the ASOS photographer. He really enjoys it, in spite of the horror stories his Gran told him. There seems to be a fault with the equipment box, which can be very nasty if you are looking for suitable props. It hasn’t happened to him yet, but he is dreading it, as he hates being in awkward positions, especially as his co-worker is rather ancient as well. He has tried to cut down on snide comments about missing papers, and pension funds gone missing, as he knows she will pay him back the moment he lands face first on the prop box!

Both Lancelot and Guinevere work hard, something they learned from their parents. Christie was a successful doctor, who is at the brink of retirement as well, having jut received her last Trait. She has spent a lot of time with her medical senior nurse, so Lancelot hopes that when his mum retires, the nurse will too. “The new nurse will hopefully be young, and sweet and pretty, although by that time tomorrow’s party might have paid off!”

What will happen at the party? How long will all these seniors carry on working? Surely some place must be able to get younger staff? Questions aplenty, finding answers is another matter! Thankfully there is the EA forum…!