#icecreamlegacychallenge

[simming-cyd]

Lilly & Akira forever. They date for a while and encourage each other to push themselves in school. On day it hits Akira that he has never loved anyone the way he loves Lilly and he proposes. A few weeks later, the Romance Festival comes to San Myshuno. They go and have a good time, but before the night ends they decide to elope 💕🌸

[whorelyyy]

Does this qualify as a club classic?

I can't believe it, was it really that easy? Raz thought as she made her way to her car. It crossed her mind how much sooner she could've felt this way if she had just shown herself a little compassion instead of going into lockdown mode, it was an anonymous post. No one knew it was her.

And now she couldn't even bring herself to care about the stupid post, she had to focus on the night ahead. What the hell was she going to wear? A mix of excitement and anxiety washed over her. While she was psyched to have made a new friend and to have fun plans, but she couldn't help feeling anxious. She really didn't want to mess this up.

As soon as Raz got home, she tore into her dresser with urgency. She needed to look good tonight—no, perfect. Elena had this effortless coolness about her, so charming and self-assured, and Raz couldn’t help but feel the pressure to impress. Not just Elena, but probably her friends too. They would likely be there, and Raz desperately wanted them to like her. Maybe, just maybe, they'd even welcome her into their circle. That thought fueled her as she yanked clothes from drawers, creating an ever-growing pile of discarded outfits on the floor.

Nothing seemed right. Too casual. Too fancy. Too last season. She kept going until her hands finally landed on something promising—her silk mini dress. She had totally forgotten about it, tucked away in the back of her dresser. It was sexy but not over-the-top, just the right mix of flirty and confident. As she held it up, she could already picture herself walking into the club.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

With her outfit finalized, Raz jumped into the shower. After drying off, she styled her hair and started on her makeup. As she trying on shoes when her phone buzzed. It was Elena, sending over the details for tonight.

Raz's heart raced as she opened it. Elena went over everything Raz need to know for the night. Raz had to give her name at the door, and she'd be setup with a VIP ticket. This is too good to be true, Raz thought, grinning at her reflection in the mirror. Is Elena an actual angel?

She continued reading. Elena reminded her that since she’d be working, if she couldn’t make it to the VIP section right away, Raz could meet her in the Bottle Girls’ Dressing Room. Elena even sent over the code to get in. Raz smiled, feeling a rush of excitement. She trusts me, she thought, appreciating the gesture. This night was already shaping up to be something special, and Raz couldn’t wait to see how it all played out.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Time seemed to crawl as Raz waited. The moment the clock hit 10, she ordered an Uber, itching to get to the club already.

The ride was uneventful, her driver a chatty mom trying to make some extra cash on the weekend. Raz respected the hustle—times were tough. She briefly thought about her own financial situation; a side gig wouldn’t hurt. But that thought quickly drifted away as they pulled up to the club. As soon as she was inside she texted Elena to let her know, thanking her again for the tickets.

Following Elena’s instructions, Raz gave her name at the door and made her way inside. She headed toward the VIP section but, not wanting to seem too eager, she stopped at the bar to grab a drink first. Settling at the far end of the counter, she sipped slowly, hoping for some liquid courage before diving into the night.

Just as she was finishing her drink, a guy slid into the seat beside her. He flashed her a goofy but endearing smile. "Mind if I take this seat?" he asked, pointing to the empty stool next to her.

"Go right ahead," Raz replied, finishing off her drink.

Once seated, he said "I'm Erick, by the way."

"Raz," she answered, offering a smile and a small wave.

Erick sighed lightly, glancing around the room. "You know, I love the idea of going out—having drinks, dancing with friends—but it can get overwhelming fast."

"I get that," Raz agreed. "I haven’t been out like this in years. But recently I learned something important: if you want to make friends, you actually have to leave your house. Who knew?" She chuckled at her own words.

Erick laughed, raising his eyebrows in mock surprise. "No way. Good to know," he said, miming a mind-blown gesture. After taking a sip of his drink, he added, "Well, I’m glad you did, or we wouldn’t have the chance to become friends."

"Oh, we’re friends now, are we?" Raz teased, giving him a playful look.

"If you wanna be," Erick shot back with a grin. "I’m here with a group—one of them knows the DJ, so we made a whole night out of it. You’re welcome to join us. We’ll either be on the dance floor"—he demonstrated some exaggerated disco moves—"or up in VIP."

Raz grinned, her playful edge softening. "I just might take you up on that."

Erick stood, grabbing a fresh drink from the bartender. "You better," he said with a soft smile before turning toward the dance floor, presumably to find his friends.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Feeling ready to socialize, Raz grabbed another drink, sipping it slowly as she checked her phone for any updates from Elena. Nothing yet. No worries, she thought. Maybe Elena was already in the VIP section.

Raz made her way toward VIP, scanning the crowd. No sign of Elena, but she did catch Erick's eye. He flashed her a smile, and she returned it with a quick grin before turning her attention back to her search. Maybe she's in the Bottle Girls’ Dressing Room? Raz wondered.

Determined, she began scanning the area, trying to spot the door. After a bit of searching, she found herself standing outside the dressing room. She entered the code Elena had given her, her gaze still focused on the keypad.

The door clicked open, and Raz stepped inside, eyes still lowered as she adjusted her grip on her drink. It wasn’t until she looked up that the scene in front of her registered.

There, right in front of her, was Elena—getting absolutely railed on the vanity. Raz was mortified.

[phrgie]

Please don't tempt me 😔😔

Ice Cream Legacy Challenge 🍨 The Sims 4 BASE GAME Challenge.

Challenge created by ME (@becciisiim)

Follow me on Instagram: becciisiim

[spacecadet-sims]

say that again. i didn’t quite hear ya - messed with the wrong bitch in the wrong era.

Rowan Sorbetto

for the Ice Cream Legacy Challenge by @becciisiim

Generation 1: Raspberry Swirl

You are a person with a lot of passion: for your job, for the ones you love, and for your friends. But, sometimes it can get out of hand. You have a hard time seeing where the line is. Your emotions control you completely. When it comes to love, it could probably be that you’re in love with the very idea of love, not a specific person. Even though you often think the grass is greener on the other side, your jealousy would never let your partner leave you the way you intended to do. You think that the only thing you really trust in life is that all problems can be solved with money, so you make sure you always have enough.

Traits: Romantic, Jealous, Materialistic Aspiration: Serial Romantic Career: Style Influencer (Stylist Branch)

○ Complete your aspiration. ○ Complete your career. ○ All your kids must be from different relationships. ○ Give all townies a makeover. ○ Get caught cheating at least once. ○ Leave someone at the altar at least once. ○ Change your hairstyle at least once a week.

[simming-cyd]

Hello there, my name is Cydnie. I'm in love with playing the sims and escape from just every day life.

__

This is Lilly Connors. She is my matriarch for Gen 1 of the IceCream Legacy Challenge(SimsBuilds WithC). This generations theme is Vanilla. Her aspiration is to have a happy family. Traits are family oriented, neat, and cheerful. She plans to become a teacher. She’s working part time now as a Freelance Artist and loves to bake. She has rented a small apartment in San Myshuno’s Art District and ready to take on life.

[whorelyyy]

I guess you really do have to leave the house to meet people...

Today, she was going to enjoy herself—her weekend. She remembered seeing a thrift store with a café in the next town over. A budget-friendly shopping spree? Yes, please, Raz thought excitedly as she headed out the door.

She hurried into the car, blasting her favorite songs on repeat and singing along loudly. Who didn’t love a little pump-up mix moment? About 15 minutes later, Raz parked and walked into the thrift store, Thrifttea. She grabbed a raspberry boba tea and started browsing the racks. She was determined to find something cute today.

She sipped her boba while going through the first few racks. Nothing stood out yet, but she wasn’t worried. She had a feeling a good find was coming. Moving to the other side of the store, she heard a voice behind her.

“I love your outfit! I have the same top, but in black. Did you get it from Bullet?”

Surprised, Raz turned and smiled. “Yeah! I just got it—the set, actually.” She motioned to her matching skirt and continued, “I’m a sucker for a matching set. Plus, I saw Yeliah from Kept Woman wearing something similar, so I had to. And less thinking,” Raz laughed softly, “gotta love an automatic outfit.”

The woman’s beautiful husky voice responded through giggles, “An automatic outfit—I love that. I could use something like that. I always make such a mess putting together outfits, littering my room with every piece of clothing I own.” She smiled and added, “I’m Elena, by the way.”

Raz smiled back. ��Elena, that’s a pretty name. I’m Raz.”

“Thank you, it’s a family name,” Elena replied with a shrug and a smile. “Nice to meet you, Raz.”

“You too,” Raz said, smiling.

“So, great taste in clothes and music? I love Kept Woman. I got to see them on their last tour, Why Is This. Were you there too?” Elena asked.

“Ugh, I wish! I’m new to the area, and I would’ve killed to see them live. You’re so lucky!” Raz gushed.

“A crime! I hope they tour again so you can catch them. Yeliah is such a powerhouse,” Elena said.

“Fingers crossed,” Raz giggled and added, “Do you know of any other good shows coming up soon?”

Elena paused for a second, thinking, then excitedly replied, “Actually, tonight at my work, DJ Free Fears is playing. I’ve seen him a few times in San Myshuno—you should totally come! I can even get you in for free.”

“Oh my god, I would love that! Thank you so much!” Raz continued eagerly, “I can totally pay for my ticket though—”

Before she could finish, Elena cut her off. “No way! I get free tickets to events. It’s no big deal, I promise. Plus, you seem cool, Raz. I want to get to know you better.”

Raz felt her smile grow, her cheeks flushing. “At least let me buy you a boba. What flavor do you want?”

Elena grinned and laughed. “I’ll take a black milk tea.”

Raz beamed as she made her way over to the counter. “Perfect.”

Raz ordered Elena’s tea, and the two found a table to sit and chat. The conversation flowed easily, and they quickly discovered how much they had in common. They both loved the same music, studied business in college, and hadn’t finished their degrees. The similarities just kept coming. It was nice, Raz thought, to have someone to talk to like this. She really liked Elena—she was witty, kind, and easy to talk to. Raz hoped this friendship would stick.

Hours passed without them realizing, and before they left the shop, Elena made sure they exchanged numbers. As they stepped outside, Elena quickly typed something on her phone.

“Okay, I just sent you my work address. It’s a club over in Windenburg. I’ll be working, so I’ll have to do bottle service when people order, but I should have time to hang out too!” Elena looked up at Raz with a smile. “Text me if you need anything!”

Raz’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I can’t wait! Thank you so much again, Elena. Meeting you feels like serendipity.”

Elena smiled warmly and pulled Raz in for a hug. “I agree.” As she started walking toward her car, she called over her shoulder with a goofy grin, “Get ready to party, girly!” mimicking drinking from an invisible bottle.

Raz laughed enthusiastically. “I’ll see you later!” she called after her, still smiling.

[whorelyyy]

Pity party for one please?

After Raz’s public declaration of mental instability on Simslist, she decided to lay low. Sure, it was an anonymous post, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that every time she left the house, everyone knew it was her. When she accidentally made eye contact with a stranger or couldn’t quite hear what locals were whispering about, her mind filled in the blanks. The thought of being found out consumed her, so she stayed in, only venturing out for work or to sit by the small creek behind her new home. That spot had become her sanctuary—the only place she felt like she could truly breathe.

A week passed with Raz avoiding the outside world. The routine was getting stale, but she wasn’t quite ready to push beyond her comfort zone. So, she kept the world at arm’s length. But as week two of isolation began, she found herself questioning her approach.

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and Raz was curled up in bed watching MeTube on her phone when, for the first time in weeks, she felt a moment of clarity.

She realized she wasn’t protecting herself by shutting down; she was just continuing a harmful cycle. A cycle he had started. It had taken everything in her, from her, to build this new life—why was she sabotaging herself now? No one knew the post was hers, so why was she punishing herself for it? She deserved connection, community, and the life she had always wanted, a life she was finally free to have.

A renewed sense of purpose and agency washed over Raz, propelling her to untangle herself from the messy bedsheets. She got up, hopped in the shower, and put on an outfit that made her feel confident.

Today, she was going to enjoy herself—her weekend. She remembered seeing a thrift store with a café in the next town over. A budget-friendly shopping spree? Yes, please, Raz thought excitedly as she headed out the door.

[whorelyyy]

Ass for cash? Hard Pass.

"N-no, no, no, no, no. No way," she muttered, picking up her phone again and double-checking what she had just read. It couldn’t be right.

But it was. She had posted her drunken trauma dump on Oasis' community Simslist. She felt pathetic as she reread her words. God, it reads like a cry for help, Raz thought. Her stomach flipped as she kept going over her message. It was like her brain was punishing her for how stupid she had been, refusing to let her stop revisiting this public broadcast of her instability. She sounded desperate—hungry for company, for connection, for money, for security. The worst part? It was all true. Raz ached for those things, craved them. She had missed out on so much life while she was with him. She wanted more. She needed more.

But just because it was true didn’t make it any easier to digest��especially when her deepest, darkest thoughts had been shared publicly for everyone in her new town to read.

As she was processing it all, her phone kept buzzing with notifications. Dozens of replies continued to flood. The starkness of their responses felt like a slap in the face.

"I’ll pray for you. Feel free to join us at Mount Sinai Church this Sunday. God helps those who cannot help themselves."

Okay, fuck them, Raz thought. She could absolutely help herself.

"Oh, this is, like, really sad. Did you mean to post this? Penny, is this you?"

At least there are other pathetic people in this town, Raz thought. Simslist was semi-anonymous, so unless someone knew your username, they wouldn’t know who posted it. Unless they were some kind of tech whiz. But she couldn’t fully indulge her anxiety because the next message was so outrageous she couldn’t believe her eyes.

"You're not the only one in this town craving connection. I know what it’s like to feel isolated, drifting through life, going through the motions, tethered to nothing. No one should feel that way, or endure such pain alone. Everyone needs support. I’d love to be that person for you. To help you. I could use a companion—a kindred spirit. Let me take some of life’s stress off your plate. Money is no object. If you're interested, please call me. I think the universe wanted us to meet. xo"

Did she just get an offer to be someone’s sugar baby? Just when she thought things couldn’t get more insane. She half-entertained the idea. Company—hopefully just company—could be nice. A friend who literally paid you to hang out? That’s not the worst thing, right? It would be nice not to worry about finances. She had taken out a ridiculous loan to afford this move, to buy her house. Raz thought of her monthly payments, her crappy salary. It barely covered groceries and her mortgage, but she managed.

She quickly pulled herself out of the delusion. Of course, she couldn’t be some random stranger’s sugar baby. She had just escaped a controlling relationship—why on earth would she jump into another situation with messed-up power dynamics? Hard pass.

She took a final moment to glance over her post before deleting it, closing the app, and silencing her phone. At least no one will know it was me. I mean, how many people really saw it?

PREVIOUS│NEXT [WIP]

[whorelyyy]

Drunken mistakes have their consequences, don't they?

Raz woke up the next morning exhausted and overwhelmed. Her clothes were stuck to her skin from a sweaty sleep and her makeup had crusted her eyes shut. She quickly rubbed last night’s tears and mascara from her eyes and shed last night’s outfit. As she took off the bodysuit her back spasmed in pain, the way she fell asleep all twisted on the couch had her muscles very unhappy with her. A warm shower could cure all this discomfort, she thought.

She made her way over to her bathroom and turned on the shower. As she waited for the water to heat up, she studied herself in the mirror. She felt disgusting, caked in grime from the bar, sleeping in her makeup, & covered in dried up sweat from a restless night. She swept her eyes over her body as she took all this in, her eyes lingering at her hair. He had always loved this style on her, but he wasn’t here anymore, he didn’t control her, and she could do whatever the fuck she wanted. So she would, but first she needed to feel like like she was actually occupying her body, too overwhelmed by the sensation of the a , crusting but somehow wet, sweat covering her body. Seeing steam begin to leave the shower, she hoped in.

Feeling like an actual person again after showering, Raz grabbed the scissors from the kitchen and decisively began cutting—taking inches off her hair, adding layers, reclaiming control with every move. She felt more like herself than she had in a long time—fully in control of her life and her body, making choices that were entirely her own. For once, she was doing exactly what she wanted, without needing his approval, something she had always needed to do before making any changes to her appearance. With each snip of the scissors, Raz felt like she was finally coming home to herself. She had been lost for so long, a ghost inhabiting her own skin, disconnected from the woman she used to be. But not anymore. With every cut, Raz reclaimed herself, her body embracing her return, it had been patently waiting for her all along.

The flurry of snips and chops came to an end, Raz finally satisfied with the result. For the first time in a very long time, she recognized the woman that stared back at her in the mirror. She was beautiful.

As she finished getting ready for her day, her phone began to blow up. Notifications began to fill her screen, all from a site called Simslist. What? Why? Had someone tagged her in something, was her account hacked? She almost never went on that app. She had only downloaded it in the hopes that she could hire someone on the cheap to help her move.

She opened the app to see what all the fuss was about, finally reading the notifications. Mortified, she dropped her phone.

"N-no, no, no, no, no. No fucking way." She stuttered as she picked her phone back up, double checking what she just read. It couldn't be right.

PREVIOUS│NEXT

[whorelyyy]

It's a date!

Raz stood outside the coffee shop a mix of nerves and excitement. It wasn’t a date—just coffee with a friend. A really charming, funny, and good-looking friend, she reminded herself, glancing at the ground.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Erick: "Almost there!"

Raz smiled, putting her phone away as she spotted Erick crossing the street. He waved as he approached, his grin wide and effortless. When he reached her, he held out his arms and asked, 'Are you a hugger?'

Raz responded, 'Well, that depends, but right now, yes.' She smiled as he pulled her into a quick hug. Raz stiffened slightly at the contact but then relaxed, feeling the warmth of his embrace against the cool air.

“Good to see you.” Erick said, stepping back but keeping his smile locked on her.

“You too,” Raz replied, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice softer than she intended. The casual hug had stirred something inside her, a warmth she couldn’t shake. “Ready for some coffee?”

"Oh, absolutely." Erick responded warmly, holding the cafe door open for Raz.

They settled in, the conversation flowing as effortlessly as it had the night they first hung out. The coffee shop was quiet, with the gentle clatter of cups and the soft strum of acoustic music playing overhead. It felt intimate, but not in a way that made Raz feel nervous—just comfortable.

"So, besides crushing people at board games," Erick began, his eyes twinkling with playful curiosity, "what else do you do for fun?"

Raz grinned. "Well, believe it or not, I play guitar. Kind of a hobby I picked up a while ago to, y'know, something to unwind."

Erick’s eyebrows shot up in pleasant surprise. "No way, guitar? That’s awesome! Do you play for fun or do you write music too?"

"A little of both, actually," Raz said, feeling herself relax into the conversation. "I’m not good or anything, it’s just a good outlet, a nice way to get things out of my brain. What about you? You have any secret talents?"

Erick leaned back in his chair, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Actually, I play piano. Have since I was a kid. My mom was really into classical music and forced me into lessons, but... I kinda ended up loving it."

Raz's eyes widened. "Piano? That's amazing. I always wanted to learn but never got around to it."

"Well, maybe I could teach you sometime," Erick offered casually, but Raz couldn’t help but notice the way his gaze lingered on her for just a moment longer than necessary.

Tension crackled between them, but they both seemed to ignore it, choosing instead to keep things light. The conversation shifted, flowing from music to hobbies, to the things they were passionate about.

"Do you play chess?" Raz asked, her voice curious. Trying to steer things towards casual, non-romantic waters.

"I do!" Erick said, nodding and lightly laughing. "I’m not amazing, but I went through a phase in college where I’d challenge my friends. Thought I was some kind of prodigy."

Raz laughed. "That feels very on-brand. Chess is something I picked up from my grandpa. It’s one of those games that’s easy to get obsessed with, right?"

"Totally. We’ll have to play sometime—though I’ll warn you, I’m just as competitive with chess as I am with Catan," Erick teased, that familiar playful glint in his eye.

Raz chuckled. "Good to know. I’ll make sure to practice before we play then."

As they sipped their coffee, the conversation deepened, and Erick opened up about his background. He told Raz how he’d graduated with a degree in art history, a path that had led him to meet most of his close friends.

"That’s actually how I met Abbi, Lana, and a lot of the others from this past weekend. We all went to college together—took a bunch of art history classes. It was kind of a weird time, figuring out what I wanted to do with my life, but I loved art so much, it just felt right. Ended up working out—thank god," he sighed, giving way to laughter. "Now I work over at the museum; I do a mix of curation and restoratio"

Raz listened intently, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "That’s really cool. Art has always fascinated me, but I feel like I don’t have an eye for it. Maybe you can teach me about that too."

Erick’s gaze softened, and there was a flicker of something unspoken between them—a moment that could have easily slipped into something more, but neither of them pushed it.

"Deal," he said softly. "I’d love to."

They finished their coffee, the conversation still flowing, when Erick suddenly checked his phone. His face lit up, and he looked at Raz with excitement.

“Wait,” he said, standing up and holding out his phone, showing Raz his screen. “There’s supposed to be a meteor shower tonight. Want to check it out?”

Raz’s heart skipped a beat, excitement bubbling up in her chest. "A meteor shower? That sounds so cool. Let’s go!"

They left the café and headed to the park, the evening air cool and crisp. As they found an empty bench and settled in, the sky stretched out above them, a blanket of stars twinkling against the dark horizon. Raz leaned back, taking in the vastness of the universe above.

Erick sat beside her, the space between them charged with unspoken energy. He nudged her lightly, leaning in just a bit closer than necessary, his voice playful. "You ready for a little stargazing magic?"

Raz smirked, rolling her eyes but feeling the warmth of his proximity. "Oh, is that what this is? Are you about to impress me with your constellation knowledge?"

He chuckled, raising a teasing eyebrow. "Maybe. You’re about to find out." He pointed to the sky, his finger tracing shapes in the darkness. "See that one?" His voice dropped lower, almost intimate. "That’s Andromeda. There’s this whole story in Greek mythology about her... how she was saved from a sea monster by Perseus. Naturally, they fell in love."

Raz turned her head, her pulse quickening as she caught him sneaking a glance at her instead of the stars. "Andromeda and Perseus, huh?" she murmured, her voice light and curious. "Sounds like a classic love story."

"Yeah," Erick said softly, his tone taking on a subtle flirtatious edge. "Seems like those old stories always revolve around love. Kinda funny how, no matter the time period, people always want the same thing." He glanced at her, quickly redirecting his gaze to the stars as Raz turned her eyes toward him.

Before Raz could respond, a bright streak of light shot across the sky—a meteor, blazing a trail through the stars. She gasped, sitting up slightly. "Did you see that?" she asked, excitement bubbling up in her voice.

Erick grinned, leaning a little closer, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Yeah, I saw it. Quick, make a wish." His voice was soft.

Raz closed her eyes for a moment, her heart pounding as she thought about her wish. She didn’t wish for anything wild or hopefully too unattainable. She just wanted things to stay good, for her life to stay on track, and honestly, for a little extra cash. Her mind flashed back to the missed payment email. Ugh, for once in her life, she wanted to feel like she was on the right path—safe and fulfilled.

When she opened her eyes, Erick was watching her, his curiosity barely masked. "So... what’d you wish for?"

Raz smirked, shaking her head. "Nice try. I’m not telling."

Erick leaned back, his grin widening as if he enjoyed the chase. "Alright, alright. Keep your secrets."

Raz smiled back, catching the playful glint in his eye. She winked, feeling the tension between them buzz in the quiet. In that moment, with the stars above and Erick by her side, she was thankful the universe had brought her a friend like him.

[whorelyyy]

Ain’t money just a bitch?

It was Tuesday after work and Raz was curled up on her couch when her phone buzzed. It was a text from Erick.

Erick: "So, about that coffee... How does Thursday sound? I promise, I know the best spot. But only if you’re ready for a debate on which board game we’re playing next 😉."

Raz smiled at his playful tone, her heart doing a little flip. Ugh, no. She had to get that under control. She was in no way ready for anything romantic, no matter how much gymnastics her heart was doing. She typed back.

Raz: "Thursday works for me! And I’m always up for a board game challenge. You’ll just have to accept defeat early this time ����."

As she hit send, her phone buzzed again, but this time it was an email notification. Raz glanced at it and froze. It was from the loan company she used to buy her house—a reminder that she’d missed a payment.

Her stomach tightened. She opened the email, scanning through the formal language, but all she could see was “missed payment” and “past due balance.” She had to put her phone down, letting out a sigh, her mind spiraling. She thought back to her conversation with Elena.

Elena had spoken so confidently about the financial security she’d gained, about how things had gotten easier once she started working on the side. Raz couldn’t help but feel that same tug of envy. She’d been struggling with money for a while now, barely keeping her head above water. Hearing how stable Elena was had sparked something in her, a curiosity that gnawed at the edges of her thoughts.

Could she ever…?

Her mind flashed back to the message she’d gotten after that drunken post—someone offering her an escape from her loneliness. It had felt weird at the time, but now, after hearing about Elena’s situation, Raz wasn’t sure. She found herself pondering it more seriously. Could she do what Elena was doing? Could she really...?

Her fingers hovered over her phone as she found the message and reread it.

"You're not the only one in this town craving connection. I know what it’s like to feel isolated, drifting through life, going through the motions, tethered to nothing. No one should feel that way, or endure such pain alone. Everyone needs support. I’d love to be that person for you. To help you. I could use a companion—a kindred spirit. Let me take some of life’s stress off your plate. Money is no object. If you're interested, please call me. I think the universe wanted us to meet. xo."

Raz stared at the words, her heart racing. Could she actually consider this? The idea tempted her—someone willing to help, to ease her burden. But what would it cost her, really?

[whorelyyy]

Ready to game?

Raz stood outside Erick's apartment, her heart pounding as she took a deep breath. It's just board games, she reminded herself, gripping the bottle of wine she brought as a thank-you gift. And friends.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Erick: "Door’s open, come right in!" With a smile, she pushed the door, greeted by the sounds of laughter and friendly chatter.

Erick was in the kitchen, preparing some snacks when he saw her enter. He grinned, wiping his hands on a towel. "Raz! You made it!" He moved to greet her, his voice was light and welcoming, his smile sweet. Raz felt a little flutter in her chest.

"Of course! I brought wine," she said, holding up the bottle.

"Perfect! You’re already the star of the night," Erick teased, taking the bottle from her. He winked playfully before adding, "I’ll get this opened up."

Raz felt the warmth in his words, that effortless friendliness he seemed to carried, but with just enough charm to keep her guessing. Before her mind got to carried away, she spotted Abbi and Lana on the couch, they were waving her over.

“Raz, there you are!” Abbi called out, giving her a big smile as Lana patted the seat next to them. “We’ve been waiting for you to get the games going. Erick’s kind of...well, he’s really bad at organizing these things.”

“Hey, I heard that!” Erick called from the kitchen, but his tone was playful, not the least bit offended.

Lana chuckled, rolling their eyes. “You’ll meet Kai in a minute. He’s new to the group too but super chill.”

Raz took a seat, feeling the last of her nerves ease as she settled into the casual, easygoing atmosphere. Just then, the door opened, and Kai walked in, holding a six-pack of craft beer. His dark hair was a bit disheveled, and his easygoing smile immediately put her at ease.

“Kai, this is Raz,” Abbi introduced, motioning toward her. “Raz, meet Kai.”

Kai gave a friendly nod as he set the beer down. "Nice to meet you, Raz. I’ve heard good things."

“Likewise!” Raz replied, returning the smile. She immediately felt like Kai was someone she could get along with. The group chatted in the living room for a few minutes before gathering around the table.

At the table, they sorted through the various board games. Erick, holding up a few options, asked, "Alright, who’s in the mood for something competitive?"

Abbi groaned, laughing. "Erick’s just trying to show off. Don’t fall for it, Raz."

Lana leaned in, mock whispering to Raz. "He’s kind of a monster at Clue, but if you beat him, he’ll never let you forget it."

Raz smirked. "I’ll take my chances."

The group settled on Clue, and as the game went on, Raz quickly found herself immersed in the playful banter and teasing. Erick, true to his friends’ warnings, was fiercely competitive, but every time Raz scored points or made a strategic move, he’d flash her an impressed smile. It wasn’t the intimidating kind of competition—more like a shared game of wits.

“Alright, Raz,” Erick said with a gleam in his eye as they approached the final rounds of guessing. “Looks like you’re about to win. I don’t know if I should be proud or embarrassed.”

“You should be both,” Raz quipped, her eyes sparkling as she claimed her victory. She had correctly guessed Professor Plum in the study with the rope.

The room erupted in laughter, and Erick clutched his chest dramatically. “You’ve bested me. I don’t know how I’ll recover.”

“Thank you for beating Erick, Raz. Welcome to the group.” Lana chimed in, raising their drink in a mock toast giggling.

The night continued with more games and plenty of laughs. Raz felt more comfortable than she had in ages—like she’d known these people longer than just a few short casual hangouts. Even Kai, who was a little quieter at first, opened up as the night went on, sharing stories from his recent travels and adventures, making everyone laugh with his dry humor.

As the evening wore on, people started to yawn and check their phones. Abbi was the first to gather her things, standing up and stretching. "Alright, you guys, this was fun, but I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow. Raz, I’m so glad you could make it."

Lana followed, hugging Raz goodbye and saying, “Next time, I’m definitely beating you in Clue.”

Soon, it was just Raz and Erick left, the remnants of the night scattered around them on the kitchen table. They were both leaning back in their chairs, the soft hum of the city filtering through the window as the post-game quiet settled around them.

Erick glanced at her, a lazy, content smile on his face. "I’m really glad you came tonight. It’s nice having you around."

Raz felt a flutter in her chest again but brushed it off. "I had a great time. Your friends are awesome."

Erick nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment. "You fit in well. Like you’ve always been a part of the group."

There was a pause, comfortable but heavy with unspoken thoughts. Raz fiddled with the edge of her sleeve, unsure how to respond to the warmth behind his words. Before she could think too much about it, Erick broke the silence.

"Hey, how about we grab coffee sometime this week?" he asked, his voice casual but with an undertone of sincerity. "Just us."

Raz’s heart skipped a beat. His question wasn’t laced with pressure. She told herself it was just an invitation—a way to deepen their friendship, nothing more. Erick gave her space to decide.

"Yeah, I’d like that," she replied, her smile soft.

Erick grinned, standing up and offering her his hand to help her out of her chair. "It’s a plan then."

As Raz gathered her things and walked to the door, she couldn’t help but feel a growing warmth in her chest. This new circle of friends, the ease she felt around them, and Erick’s effortless charm—it felt too good to be true, like she’d wake up and reality would hit.

"Goodnight, Raz," Erick said as she stepped out into the hallway, his voice lingering in the air.

"Goodnight, Erick," she replied, flashing him one last smile before heading home.

[whorelyyy]

That did not just fucking happen...

There, right in front of her, was Elena—getting completely railed on the vanity.

Raz froze, her brain struggling to catch up with what she was seeing. Her stomach dropped in shock, and her face flushed with embarrassment. Without a word, she spun on her heel, heart racing, and quickly left the room, her pulse pounding in her ears as she closed the door behind her.

What the actual fuck? Raz thought to herself.

Had she really just walked in on her new friend like that? There was no way Elena would want anything to do with her after this. But also, what was she doing having sex at work? Raz wasn’t one to judge, but it was wild that they chose such an unconventional place. Sure, the door was locked, and maybe the girls who worked there had an understanding, but none of this rationalizing eased her embarrassment.

She needed to get out of there. How could she face Elena after that? Raz's stomach sank at the thought of them possibly having seen her walk in.

Determined to escape, Raz started moving toward the door, swiping through her phone to find the Uber app. She only made it a few steps before bumping right into someone’s back. Great, she thought, just what I needed—more embarrassment tonight.

She lifted her head to apologize as the person turned around. It was Erick.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” Raz exclaimed, flustered. “Like a total iPad baby, I couldn’t tear my attention from my screen. Are you okay?”

Erick's surprise melted into a warm smile. “Raz the iPad baby—” he began, but his playful tone shifted to concern as he noticed her distress. “Whoa, Raz, are you alright?”

Raz managed a half-hearted smile in response. Sensing her unease, Erick motioned toward the patio door. Understanding his intent and not wanting to reject his kindness, she followed him outside.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

As they made it outside, Erick looked at her intently and asked, “Hey, you seem a bit off. Everything okay?”

Raz took a breath, trying to shake off the embarrassment. “Yeah, just... an unexpected situation back there. But I’m fine, really.”

Erick's expression softened. Raz could tell he didn't want to press the subject. “Are you sure?”

"Yeah, totally sure," Raz responded softly. "I appreciate you checking, but I think I'm gonna head out."

"Yeah, what are friends for?" Erick chimed, wiggling his eyebrows playfully. His expression shifted to something more serious as he added, "You mentioned earlier that you came out to make friends. The offer still stands if you want to join us tonight." He hurriedly added, "Absolutely no worries if not! Just know that sometimes a little distraction, a little redirection helps me feel better after something... unexpected happens."

Raz hesitated for a moment, weighing her options. The thought of going home feeling defeated gnawed at her. She recalled her earlier resolve to meet new people and enjoy a night out. Did she really want a chance encounter with Elena—doing her... thing—to ruin her night? The club was crowded; who’s to say they would even run into each other again? Maybe this was her opportunity for a second chance—an invitation to turn things around.

Taking a deep breath and relaxing her shoulders, she looked at Erick’s encouraging smile and said, “Okay, you know what? I’ll give it a shot.”

“Awesome! Follow me,” Erick said, leading her back inside.

They made their way over to the bar where Erickks friends were gathered. “Everyone, this is Raz!” Erick announced as they approached the group.

“Welcome, Raz!” one of his friends shouted, raising a drink in her direction. “Join the party!”

The infectious energy of the group made Raz smile. She grabbed a fresh drink and stepped onto the dance floor, feeling the rhythm seep into her bones. As the music thumped, she let herself get lost in the moment, dancing alongside Erick and his friends.

They moved together, laughter spilling from their lips as they matched the beat. With each song, Raz felt her earlier embarrassment fading, replaced by a sense of joy and freedom. Erick shot her reassuring smiles, making her feel more at ease.

“See? This is way more fun than hiding out!” Erick called out over the music, his eyes shining.

“Absolutely!” Raz replied, her heart swelling with happiness. The laughter and camaraderie filled her with warmth, making her realize that she was starting to feel at home in this new place.

As the night went on, they danced and chatted, their connection growing with every beat. Raz found herself genuinely enjoying the night, it had been so long since she'd really felt the joys of friendship.

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Right after last call, Raz stepped outside with her new group of friends, grinning ear-to-ear as they sang one of the DJ's last songs, completely off-key. Some were making plans to continue the party downtown, but Raz wasn’t sure she was built for dusk-till-dawn partying. The group slowly began to disperse as everyone called their rides, exchanging hugs and goodbyes.

Before heading off, Erick's friends, Abbi and Lana, made sure to exchange numbers with Raz. Excited, she pulled out her phone, only to see about 10 texts from Elena and a missed call. Her stomach sank. She quickly saved Abbi and Lana’s numbers but couldn’t bring herself to open Elena’s messages. That was a problem for future Raz. Tonight had been too good to dwell on anything else—she wanted to savor the moments with the people who had made the night so worthwhile.

Phone still in hand, with half the group already gone, Raz decided to call for a ride. Only Erick remained beside her.

"I'm glad you stuck around," Erick said with a soft smile, his gaze dropping briefly to the ground. "I had a lot of fun with you." He paused, looking back up. "And so did everyone else."

Raz bumped his shoulder playfully, smiling. "I had a lot of fun too." She hesitated for a second, her filter gone after a night of drinking. "I’m really glad I met you, Erick. You seem like a good friend."

Erick grinned, glancing down again. "See? Leaving the house really does work." He looked at her with gentle eyes, miming with his hands the mind blown gesture.

They both laughed. Moments later, Raz’s ride pulled up to the curb. She climbed into the backseat, leaning out to call, "Get home safe!"

Erick gave her a sweet, genuine smile. "You too, Raz."

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Raz made it home safely, her body collapsing into bed, and she was out as soon as her head hit the pillow. As she slept, her phone buzzed again and again, more texts from Elena lighting up the screen.

[whorelyyy]

Why don’t you blog about it?

Raz drunkenly bared her soul, typing furiously about how she couldn’t stand the loneliness anymore. She had thought this move was a smart idea—a fresh start, leaving all the negativity behind. But she hadn’t realized that she still carried it with her, that no amount of distance could change what had happened.

She took a deep breath, feeling a bit better after finally processing some of her emotions. It was a relief to get it out of her head, where it had been bouncing around for weeks, and leave it on the screen. Out of habit, she clicked "POST." She had hoped that writing everything down would sober her up, but instead, it only made her cry, blurring her already hazy vision even more.

Leaving the computer with the screen still open, she stumbled to the fridge to grab some water. After filling a glass, she decided to put something on the TV—how could she pass up a little distraction? Not even fifteen minutes into the nonsense reality show she’d chosen, she fell asleep.

Curled up on the couch, she let the noise of the show drown out the noise in her head.

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[whorelyyy]

Drunk crying at the bar is totally a normal & well adjusted thing to do, right?

Raz, fueled by a caffeine-induced buzz from unpacking well past midnight, found herself wide awake. She thought all her hard work deserved a reward, so she ventured to one of Oasis's only bars, The Watering Hole. The bar was walking distance from her new place, so she figured she could treat herself to a few drinks and not have to worry about driving. When she reached the bar, it was quiet. She ordered a vodka soda, a simple yet satisfying reward for her hard work.

Sipping her drink, she scanned the bar, taking in its plain, lackluster atmosphere. Was this a typical Wednesday night here? With only a handful of patrons, including herself and the bartender, the place felt lonely. As someone tinkered with the jukebox, she braced herself for the predictable twang of a pro-USA country anthem. To her surprise, the familiar chords of The Mountain Goats' "Up the Wolves" filled the air.

“How depressed do you have to be to play The Mountain Goats at the bar?” she whispered to herself, her irritation mounting with every note. The sheer absurdity of it made her angry, prompting her to question the sanity—or lack thereof—of whoever dared to play such an offbeat choice. “What a cry for help…” she whispered to herself, finishing her drink.

As the song played on she unconsciously found herself singing along, muscle memory from playing the song on repeat when she was younger and much more depressed.

“There's gonna come a day when you'll feel better, you'll rise up free and easy on that day and float from branch to branch, lighter than the air. Just when that day is coming, who can say? Who can say?”

As she choked out the last line, tears welled in her eyes. Damn it, this was the last thing she needed. No dredging up the past, just forward, always forward.

She angrily brushed away her tears, refusing to let some damn goat band ruin her night. Hell-bent on making the most of her hard-earned celebration, she ordered another vodka soda, this time a double. The bartender, with her generous pour, swiftly complied, and Raz welcomed the extra dose of liquid comfort. Yet, as she sipped her drink, her mood soured further when the same guy rose to select another song, this time he chose "No Children" by the Mountain Goats.

“You’re fucking kidding me.” She fussed loudly.

The guy who played the song glanced her way, his eyes carrying a haunting emptiness. He offered no emotion, no acknowledgment, just drank his beer and crooned along to what can only be described as the epitome of despair. He kept his gaze locked on Raz before exchanging words with the bartender. Behind the counter, the woman swiftly filled four shot glasses with vodka. Uninterested in witnessing a man drown his sorrows, Raz turned her attention to her phone. No new messages. Not that she should be surprised; he had made sure she was alone right until the end.

“Can’t have you running off and telling someone our business, my business.” echoed in her head.

She shuddered, forcefully suppressing the memory. Before Raz could grasp the situation, two shots materialized before her. The bartender gestured toward the man orchestrating tonight's gloomy playlist as she darted off to serve another patron. Locking eyes with the man, he raised his glass, nodded, and downed the first shot in one swift motion, followed by the second. His gaze bore into her, waiting for her to join in.

She knew better and was well aware of the risks of accepting drinks from strange, depressing men in bars, but in that moment, she couldn't summon the energy to care. Offering the man a faint, uneasy smile, she knocked back both shots. Appearing somewhat satisfied, he returned a sad smile before turning his attention back to his beer.

“And I hope when you think of me years down the line you can't find one good thing to say and I'd hope that if I found the strength to walk out, you'd stay the hell out of my way.”

The lyrics slammed into her like a freight train, shaking her to her very core. Unable to hold back, she crumbled under the weight of her emotions, tears streaming down her cheeks. Wonderful. What a fantastic first impression she was making. Hastily, she fled to the solitary bathroom in the bar. She refused to let this moment define her introduction to anyone in Oasis, not even some depressed weirdo at the bar.

Struggling to regain control, she attempted to calm her racing thoughts, grasping for stability. Counting five things she could see, smell, touch, and taste, she fought to ground herself. Just as she started to catch her breath amid her broken sobs, a knock reverberated through the door, shattering the peace she had managed to build.

"Hey, everything okay in there?" A low, gentle voice drifted through the door.

"I'm fine," she snapped back, her tone sharp with irritation.

"Doesn't sound fine," the voice persisted.

"I said I'm fine!" she practically yelled. "These songs are just fucking awful."

"Apologies for the tunes," the voice admitted. "I chose those songs. Looks like we're both drowning in the same melancholy. Let me grab you another drink? Misery loves company."

“No.” she said firmly, “please leave me alone.”

No response. Thank god he understood. She was in no place to make new friends, no matter how desperately she craved them. The longing to rely on someone other than herself was strong, but this wasn't the place, and she wouldn’t find that here and certainly not in some pathetic man singing sad songs at the bar on a Wednesday night.

She collected herself, giving her reflection a quick once-over in the mirror. It was hard to tell she'd just been a mess of tears, but why did the room feel like it was spinning? Exiting the bathroom, her vision blurred intermittently, not from tears this time, but from the bartender's generous pours. It was time to call it a night; crying and blacking out her first time out in Oasis was not the reputation she wanted. With unsteady steps, she made her way to the bar to settle her tab. Noticing the man from earlier was gone, she shrugged it off, too dazed to dwell on it. The bartender informed her that her drinks had been paid for. Strange, but she lacked the focus or energy to inquire further. All she wanted was to get home.

She stumbled her way home, unlocking the door to her beautiful new space. Unpacking had been a nightmare, but she couldn't deny her adoration for what she’d created here. Collapsing onto her bed, exhaustion didn't quite claim her yet. Opting for distraction, she reached for her phone, mindlessly scrolling through TikTok. What felt like a only 15 minutes turned into an hour of aimless consumption—reviews of eye cream, teasers for her favorite band's new album, snippets from her favorite TV shows, and insane nonsensical memes. The mindlessness was a welcome escape until a video of three childhood best friends, set to Alex Olsen's "someday i’ll get it" triggered tears for the third time that night. The crushing weight of loneliness consumed her, leaving her feeling utterly isolated. No friends, no family, no one to love, support, or uplift her. She was strong, but she was exhausted. Yearning for tenderness, for affection, for rest, she sobbed, drowning in her sadness and intoxication. She had to get these feeling out of her head, and Raz found the best way for her to do that was journaling. She reached for her laptop where she kept an anonymous personal blog, desperately needing to get this aching feeling out. In her depressed and inebriated state, she failed to realize she'd opened the wrong page…

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The songs mentioned throughout the update:

[whorelyyy]

Let’s Unpack That

“I’m really glad the storage unit worked out, but if I have to make one more trip back here, I’m gonna fucking lose my mind.” Raz muttered through gritted her teeth, slamming the unit door shut with determination. The repetition grated on her nerves, but she knew each closure brought her closer to her new life. Slowly stashing away what little possessions she could for her escape was a strategic move, a testament to her unwavering commitment to freedom.

[finished house photos at the end of post]

She knew she was on her own with this, without anyone lending a hand, but that reality didn't make the situation any easier. Looking back, she wished she had taken the time to make some friends in town before diving into unpacking; that would've been a smart move. But eagerness got the best of her.

Raz was the kind of person who found comfort in seeing herself reflected in her surroundings. Each trinket and knickknack in her home told a story of her life's journey and achievements, carefully arranged so she could look back and remember the good times, even if they were few and far between. It was the little things that truly evoked the sense of home, like the dried flowers hanging in her kitchen, remnants of her old flourishing garden in Watson, now left behind and neglected. Despite the hassle of moving, these personal touches made every sweaty moment worth it. She was lucky she was able to bring so much with her.

At last, she reached the final box, brimming with her grandma’s pots and pans. With precision, she arranged them over her kitchen island, each piece finding its place. Stepping back, she savored the sight, a testament to her perseverance and determination. With a sense of accomplishment, she stood in her kitchen, surrounded by the fruits of her labor. She had done it—she was home.

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