#Differences in the Family Tree Challenge

[justkeeponsimming]

Finally! Karma sees her girlfriend, Nina, and her roommate, Sunny, enter the park! The pair stop, quietly chatting as they search for a familiar face. Karma jumps up and down, waving her hands high to catch their attention!

Karma: “Hi, Nee! Happy Harvestfest!”

Nina hurries up to Karma, throwing her arms around her shoulders when she gets close enough. The couple hold each other tightly, embracing for a long moment. They lose themselves in the hug, unaware of everyone else around them. Eventually, they break apart, but keep hold of each other’s hands.

Karma: “You look so, so cute! I love your dress!”

Nina: “Not as cute as you, Kar! I’m so excited to meet the rest of your family!”

Karma can’t contain her happy giggles! Nina and Karma have taken their relationship very slowly. It took a lot of emotional strength for Nina to meet just Karma’s sister, Mercy. Now she’s excited to see the rest of Karma’s huge family? Nina’s made so much personal progress, with one of the reasons being her adoration for Karma!

Nina: “Oh plumbobs! I forgot to introduce you! Sunny, meet my girlfriend, Kar!”

A sim with bright blonde hair steps forward, looking a little awkward. The conversation shifts as Karma shakes Sunny’s hand. It’s nice to finally meet Sunny, but Karma can’t wait for more alone time with Nina!

[lynzishell]

The Present 🧡 Chestnut Ridge

Prev // Next

Transcript below the cut:

Danny: Papa? Joseph: Hm? Danny: Do I have a grandma or grandpa?

Joseph: Uh, well, you do, that would be my parents, but they died before you were born. Danny: Oh. What were their names? Joseph: My dad was Luis, and my mom was Adriana. Danny: Did my mom have parents? Joseph: Of course. Unfortunately, I never met ‘em, so I don’t know anything about ‘em.

Joseph: What’s with all the questions today, anyway? Danny: We were supposed to do a family tree in class, but I couldn’t finish mine. Joseph: Your teacher won’t give you a low score for it, will she? Danny: No, she said it was okay, but that I should ask you.

Danny: So, is anyone in our family alive? Joseph: I have a brother, so he would be your uncle. He’s alive, he just lives far away. Danny: What’s his name? Joseph: Julian.

Danny: Does Julian have any kids? Joseph: No, no kids. Danny: Hm. I wish I had a brother. Joseph: …

Danny: Then I’d have someone to play with and we could— Joseph: Hey, Danny, how ‘bout you go feed Daisy and get washed up for supper while I finish up out here, okay? Danny: Okay.

[simsyl]

[justkeeponsimming]

Mercy and Karma arrive a few minutes late to their yoga class! Luckily, Sunny and Nina still wait outside the spa for them. The roommates light up when they see their special guests walking towards them.

Nina: “Finally! I was missing you! Hi Kar! Hi Meme!”

Sunny: “Hi Kar and hi Mercy!”

Mercy cannot help but smile as stays true to their promise to only call Mercy by a name that she likes. She hates being called Meme, but her good trait won’t let her correct sims for fear of upsetting them. Sunny’s small consideration really brightens Mercy’s mood.

Karma: “Sorry, Nee! The train was sooooo delayed!”

As the couple greet each other, Sunny leans in close and whispers in Mercy’s ear. Their comment makes it so hard for Mercy not to giggle loudly.

Sunny: “Is that true?”

Mercy: “Nope! Kar kept fussing over her hair, so we missed the first train. She always wants to look perfect for Nina. It’s pretty cute!”

Sunny: “That’s so sweet! Nee deserves someone who cares about what she thinks.”

Sunny and Mercy’s conversation distracts them until they both catch Nina and Karma being romantic. Mercy cringes, instinctively uncomfortable around public displays of affection. Interestingly, Sunny recoils too. Huh. Mercy banks that reaction away to ask them more about it.

Jumping in before the couple gets even more smoochy, Sunny guides the group into the spa.

[justkeeponsimming]

The police chief is so impressed with Mercy’s hard work that they give her a hefty bonus on her first pay cheque! 

Mercy lives in one of twin townhouses with her sister, Karma. Her sibling was the only one working full time for a long while. Mercy needed longer to find what her true career would be. Karma bought all of their furniture and provided for them. Mercy is so excited to give back to her sister and thank her for keeping them afloat.

As a surprise, Mercy gets the Sim God to update Karma’s kitchen. With the spare funds, Mercy also decorates her dream kitchen. The two sides reflect the sisters’ individual styles, but they blend well together. Mercy also adds in a doggy door for Donut so he has access to the garden when she’s asleep!

Mercy’s house feels so much cosier with the new additions!

[justkeeponsimming]

The next day, Joanne sits down next to Mercy in the office. The new friends work in silence for a while, before Joanne speaks up.

Joanne: “Are you okay? I can see how much that witness affected you yesterday.”

Mercy tried so hard to shake her tense moodlet. At the crime scene yesterday, her estranged mother, Hex, was one of the witnesses. Mercy had to interview her, in spite of a conflict of interest, as the rest of the team were busy. She stayed professional, but seeing the relative who caused her so much turmoil really stressed her out.

Mercy: “Yeah…she did. That sim was my mother. She’s a career criminal. One of the reasons why I work here now.”

Joanne’s brow furrows in concern. Although Mercy has known her for such a short time, she knows she can tell her new friend anything. Mercy pours her heart out, sharing all of the trauma from her teenage years until now. 

Joanne: “Hex Quick - that’s a name I’ll never forget. My Dad was a detective at Willow Creek PD and heard about this case. The biggest arrest of a thief on record. You’re so strong to come through that and be such a good sim, Mercy.”

Mercy: “You don’t know how much that means, Joanne. I’ve worked so hard to write my mother’s wrongs…”

Wordlessly, Mercy and Joanne share a look of mutual understanding. They develop an even deeper friendship. The pair quickly become inseparable, always collaborating on their cases!

[justkeeponsimming]

The party guests weren’t kidding! Why are there so many llamas?!

Bulky costumes block the bar as other sims try to squeeze past. The llamas stare at one another, wondering if they’re seeing triple from the juice flowing through them.

Nova: “I’m the original Llama. Who are you?”

Llama 1: “I don’t know. The Sim God is completely confused.”

Llama 2: “This is very a-llama-ing. Who could we be?”

Uncle Thorne gives up his identity with his awful puns as Llama #2. The mystery of Llama #1 will never be solved, as they disguise their voice to remain mysterious!

[justkeeponsimming]

With the house to herself, Karma gets a whole day with her gorgeous girlfriend, Nina!

Karma has everything planned! An itinerary covers the whole day down to the minute! Her sister, Mercy, who’s near trait is always on point, helped get the schedule together. Karma will be flexible with the plans, but she just wants everything to be perfect.

Jumping with excitement at the sound of the doorbell, Karma hurries outside to greet her girlfriend! Nina looks absolutely radiant in sunshine yellow. Karma just wants to bask in her girlfriend’s glow for the rest of her life!

Gently taking her hand, Karma gallantly kisses her. Nina chuckles warmly and clutches her hand against her chest. She mimics melting at how attractive her girlfriend is. Karma looks up and flashes her beloved a huge smile.

Karma: “I’ve missed you so much, Nee! Are you ready for our adventure today?”

Nina: “More than ready, Kar! Let’s go!”

Nina takes control, taking their linked hands and dragging Karma along. Soon, her girlfriend has to take over as Nina has no idea where she’s going!

[justkeeponsimming]

As soon as she gets home, Mercy calls up the adoption agency in search of her furry friend!

There are too many dogs that suit her lifestyle! She lives in a set of tiny town homes with her sister, Karma. There’s really only space for one dog. Whilst Mercy starts a new career soon as a detective, her sister works from home full time. The sisters will love their furry family member and provide them with everything they need!

The adoption agency confirms they have the perfect pet for her and arrange a home visit for that evening. Within hours, Mercy hears a knock at the door, announcing a moment she’ll remember forever! 

Mercy tries her best not to shake with excitement as a gorgeous collie emerges from the crate! Looking on the adoption agency’s website, this is the dog she was most drawn to! 

Adoption Agent: “This is Donut! I presume you -“

Mercy: “Yes! Yes, I’ll adopt him!”

Mercy’s hand shakes as she holds it out for Donut to sniff. The collie bumps her hand with his nose, lifting it over his head for many scritches! Donut soon melts into her arms. Mercy feels a deep connection so fast. This is her spirit animal!

[justkeeponsimming]

Taking a deep breath, Mercy walks up the steps of the police station.

Little does she realise the significance of this police station. Seasons earlier, her mother, Hex, walked down these steps to her freedom. Her future was outside the building, but Mercy’s is inside. It’s poetic justice for the daughter of a career criminal to join the other side.

Mercy expects that her mother was once held here for her prison sentence. She never went to see her parent, too hurt to hear her lies and excuses. Mercy may have the good trait, but some hurt can’t be forgiven easily.

She hesitates as the doors open automatically ahead of her. Is she making a mistake? Everything that reminds her of her parents, Hex and Weatherly, causes unbearable pain. She’s more sensitive than other family members who can’t understand the level of pain that frequently hits her. But, her teenage trauma keeps holding her back. She can’t keep looking into the past when her future is a step ahead.

Making up her mind, Mercy steps into the police department’s reception. A clean, modern space welcomes her. She gives the receptionist her name, then steps aside to wait for her interviewer.

[justkeeponsimming]

Completely out of breath, Mercy finally stops running away. Her legs burn. Her lungs gasp for air. A cold sweat covers her body. She ran so fast, relying on her high athletic skill to get her away from the monster in the abandoned lab basement.  Turning around, Mercy digs her hands into her braided hair out of frustration and fright. A huge, ominous cloud billows out of the old lab. Flashes of pink and purple light up the darkening sky. Strangerville is suspiciously quiet, in spite of the huge cloud blooming overhead.  Mercy: “W-what have I done?!” Mercy can’t remember much about being in the abandoned lab. She recalls walking down a corridor covered in vines, leading to a security door. She swiped her keycard but her mind runs blank after this.  Exhausted and overwhelmed, Mercy can’t face the consequences of her actions. She hurries home, mind racing. When her tense moodlets finally fade, she’ll put the puzzle pieces together. 

[justkeeponsimming]

[justkeeponsimming]

Overnight, the whole town of Strangerville got infected by the Mother Plant spores!  Mercy doesn’t have enough antidote to cure everyone, but she’s closer to liberating the town! She’s tested her concoction on herself numerous times, but needs possessed sims not in hazmat gear for new research.  Her next hurdle is how to administer the antidote when these sims jump at her. She has little time to react. She’s seen the possessed sims jump on newcomers, fighting with them and somehow infecting them. She’s less susceptible to the Mother Plant spores as a part alien sim, but can she risk being taken over herself? Will her hazmat suit protect her? There’s no elegant way to go about it. Mercy makes sure the lids on each test tube are loose enough that it could be popped off in a rush. Steeling her nerves, she heads further into town. Every townie is infected by the spores. When they notice her walking normally, a group of them swarm towards her. It’s like something out of a horror film! Mercy gets to work! Any sim that approaches her gets a splash of antidote to the face! The smell alone from the antidote freezes them in place so Mercy can make them drink it. Townies transform before her eyes, becoming themselves again! Nina Hamrick, the sim who proclaimed herself as the leader of the Strangerville Alliance, wakes up as if she’s been asleep for weeks! Mercy explains where she is and who she is. Nina isn’t from Strangerville at all. She’s from San Myshuno! Her roommate must be so worried about where she’s been for weeks! Knowing that her antidote works, Mercy moves on with her next stage of her plan.

[justkeeponsimming]

Unaware of her sister’s work drama, Karma finally feels free from her financial burdens. 

For years, Karma financially supported her sister, Mercy, after their lives were turned upside down. Their mother, Hex, got arrested and thrown in prison for almost a decade. They lost their home as the courts seized all of her assets. Mercy blamed herself for the whole ordeal and desperately tried to make amends to society. Charity work and volunteering took up all of Mercy’s time, so she didn’t have a stable income. 

Now, Mercy has a job that she adores. Her fieldwork for a science lab in Strangerville pays decently. She covers her half of their mortgage, as well as having spare money to decorate her place. 

Karma earns a lot through her freelance songwriting. Without having to cover a lot of the expenses now, she can spend her savings on something lavish. With her latest cheque, Karma blows all of her budget on her own piano.

As a teenager, Karma had a piano paid for by her criminal mother. It was more expensive than this one, but was purchased with ill gotten gains. Karma is so proud of herself for saving up to buy a piano of her own, one that she will never feel guilty for playing. 

Karma’s second bedroom becomes her music studio. She always wanted a place to create songs of her own. Music is her safe space and deserves all of her simoleons! 

[justkeeponsimming]

Overwhelmed by so much emotion, Karma grabs Mercy’s hands and pulls her up. She throws her arms around her sister, squeezing her so tightly. She only loosens her grip a little bit when Mercy gasps for air. Karma: “Meme, I am so, so proud of you! I’m so happy that you’ve identified a part of yourself. But, I’m so, so sorry for dragging you out here. I would never mean to make you uncomfortable.” Mercy holds her sister close, feeling tears flow down her face. For years, she knew something was different, but could never put a finger on it. Throughout the evening at the romance festival, surrounded by sims showing romantic feelings towards their loved ones, Mercy’s mind wondered about her own views. She’d come to the conclusion that she was aroace, but the insight from the Romance Guru caught her off guard. Love comes in many forms. Mercy is a loving, generous sim who shows her feelings for others in equally meaningful ways. The Romance Guru’s advice simply cemented her identification. Mercy: “Thank you for the apology, Kar. I know you didn’t mean to make me feel uncomfortable. I feel…I don’t know. Vulnerable? Confused? Happy?” Karma pulls back and flashes her sister the biggest l, brightest smile. Mercy can’t help but grin back at her. This is a moment the sisters will remember for the rest of their lives - their understanding of one another growing even deeper. Karma: “I’m sure it’s a lot to process, but I’m so proud of you for finding a label that fits. Let’s get out of here. I can’t see any cuties.” Mercy giggles, looping her arm through Karma’s. The sisters walk to the train station, sharing more self discoveries. Karma and Mercy are each other’s safe space!

[justkeeponsimming]

What the plumbobs is Mercy looking at? Stopping short at the end of the weird room, a foreboding corridor leads off to a heavily reinforced door. Strange vines grow up the walls and creep across the floor. They look similar in colour to the odd plants contained in rusty tanks behind her.  Does she run back to find her superiors before going any further? They’ve refused to enter the abandoned lab, instead encouraging her to go in alone. The upper level was eerie, but not dangerous. Everything in Mercy’s mind screams at her to run, but her good trait freezes her in place. This is her job, she can’t let her employers down by wimping out because things look a little weird.  Reinforcing her inner confidence, Mercy tiptoes down the corridor. The vines stay still, thank the Sim God! Maybe it’s just the long lost experiments growing out of their controlled environments? Surprisingly, her keycard works on the heavily guarded door. This door rolls back with a loud creak, sounding like an animal ready to pounce. This floor hasn’t been maintained like the previous ones! Mercy gasps and involuntarily recoils as the sight before her terrifies her to the core. What the plumbobs is that?!