To recap: This is my attempt at a Polyamory Project Challenge, created by princedeej28. The point of the challenge is to romance more than one Sim and earn enough points to make Hugh Hefner jealous. Last time, I let my Sims run pretty much autonomously and much to my embarrassment, they racked up more points than I had the rotation before. We also had our first death – Professor Arianna Miguel – which means that the end is nigh, although not in this episode. Now that you’re all caught up, on with the story!

This time around, I decided to try a modified Obey Your Sims handicap. With Obey Your Sims, you try to fulfill a minimum of one Want per day. I locked the highest-scoring achievable Want each morning and tried to fulfill it by the end of they day. So Corey’s Want to Have Ten Best Friends Within The Next Twenty-Four Hours Even Though I Currently Only Have Seven Friends Total was not fulfilled, but Buy A Car was. This car will not be used for woohoo purposes.

Vanessa’s Want for Woohoo was more readily achieved. Please note that it did not involve a car.

I couldn’t resist taking the opportunity to rack up a few more points while I was at it.

And in fact, it was that sequence of events that got Bertie and Vanessa back in love with each other. (rolls eyes) Romance Sims.

What with one thing and another, Bertie’s Want to Meet Someone New didn’t get filled on the first day. It remained the highest-scoring achievable Want the second day, since Bertie has the sense to keep his hands off people who are already spoken for. Fortunately, hiring a maid helped. BERTIE: So how do you wike youw job? I bet you get a wot of big tips. DON PLATZ, THE MAID: See, the thing about Man Maid Lust? It’s fiction. I just clean inanimate objects. BERTIE (flustered): Oh no, I think you misundewstood me…! DON PLATZ, THE MAID: I don’t. If you’ll excuse me, sir? I have three more rooms to do on this side of the hallway.

Corey’s Social meter tanked overnight – I’m sure there was some perfectly valid reason, but I forget what it was. When the Social Bunny showed up, I figured that was a good chance to clear up the Social meter and take care of Corey’s high-scoring Meet Someone New. Somehow, Social Bunnies don’t count.

They do, however, inspire other people to express concern for the affected Sim. BERTIE: Cowey, awe you okay? You’we tawking to thin aiw. COREY: No, I’m not. I’m talking to my friend Harvey. BERTIE: Hawvey? Cowey, how’s youw Sociaw metew? COREY: Really pretty, actually. I’ve never seen it red before. BERTIE: (hugs Corey) I’m so sowwy! I shouwd have noticed – I showdn’t have wet it get so bad!

BERTIE: Wet’s see if we can’t make that nasty owd wabbit go away, shaww we?

And whaddaya know? It worked!

It worked quite well, actually. Look, more points!

While the Social Bunny didn’t count as Meet Someone New, possible-mayor Abhijeet St. Julien, who came home from work with Corey did. Theoretically, Corey is an architect, but since I don’t have Free Time, he’s actually in the Politics career track. He topped it some time ago, which means that everyone he brings home is dressed like a mayor, even if they aren’t one. I didn’t ask Mr. St. Julien what his actual rank was. On day three of the rotation, Corey’s high-scoring reasonable want was to become Best Friends with Mr. St. Julien, but I wasn’t able to manage that for him.

On the other hand, relations with Albert and Buttercup have improved again, to the point where the youngsters will invite themselves over for a visit. VANESSA: Albert! Oh, it’s so good to see you! It’s been too long! How are you? ALBERT: I am well, thank you, Mother. It looks like you are well too, judging by your outfit. What are you doing now? VANESSA: I can’t tell you. It’s T-O-P S-E-C-R-E-T. ALBERT: I have a college degree, Mother. I know how to spell. VANESSA: Oh. Whoops.

All in all, with the Obey Your Sims handicap in place, Vanessa was the one who made out best benefited the most. VANESSA: Hi, Zenon. What are you up to? ZENON: Oh, nothing. (sighs) Time was, when I couldn’t quiet my thoughts down and sleep Arianna would get up and talk to me. She was good at quieting things down. I miss her so much.

VANESSA: Well, you know, Zenon, there are other ways to turn off those pesky thoughts of yours. ZENON: There are? VANESSA: Uh-huh. And you know, I’ve always thought you were kind of cute? ZENON: Really?

And bam! Two Loves At Once, completed! Not that Vanessa has any intention of following through, and Zenon isn’t particularly interested in specific people either. Which is fine by me, since I get no points for interactions that don’t involve Bertie. Speaking of whom…

Vanessa and Bertie woke up early on day three, and I decided to get Vanessa’s generic Woohoo Want out of the way nice and early to leave the day free for other things. And also get Bertie’s Flirt Want out of the way while I was at it. I’m lazy, which means that I’m quite efficient.

Big mistake.

COREY (impatiently): Bertie? Vanessa? How often do I have to remind you about being quiet? VANESSA: Sorry, Corey. COREY: Really, Bertie, you make millions of dollars. How hard would it be to have someone soundproof this room? BERTIE: Sowwy, Cowey. COREY: I already get up to pee twice a night. I really don’t think that asking for silence during the few hours I’m actually able to sleep is asking too much. VANESSA: Sorry, Corey. BERTIE: Sowwy, Corey. I was not able to get the picture of Corey attempting to slap Bertie, but believe me, he did his best.

And in the evening, the number of Sims in the household decreased by one. GRIM REAPER: .r. .and..s, s.r? Co… .ou .ig. .y ..urgl…? I.. a .ug. fa..* *“Mr. Sanders, sir? Could you sign my hourglass? I’m a huge fan.”

Gerard Sanders, age unknown due to a glitchy lifebar that reflected the information for whatever Sim I’d looked at previously. Although Gerard was something of a wheeler-dealer in his youth, he calmed down and became a steady, reliable, and largely ignored member of the household. As a bass player, this is not exactly out of character: bass players don’t get enough recognition either. Gerard and Beverly decided to forgo children, opting instead for a one-seventh share each in Little Bertie. Rest in peace, Gerard.

And that is all for this time around. I’ll see you next time. Score for this round Assorted romantic interactions x 6: 30 Woohoo x 1: 30 Got caught at woohoo x 1: -40 TOTAL: 20 Score as of last round: 550 GRAND TOTAL: 570 Relationship standings (Daily/Lifetime) Bertie > Corey: 98/98. Married. Bertie > Vanessa: 98/98. Best friends. Love. Corey > Bertie: -72/-59. Married. Portrait is 15/16 red. Corey > Vanessa: -6/11. Portrait is 7/8 red. Vanessa > Bertie: 98/98. Best friends. Love. Vanessa > Corey: 76/76. Vanessa > Zenon: 96/96. Best Friends. Love. Two bolts.