Chapter 0.2 | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 0.4

Generation Zero: Beige - Starts with a HUMAN Sim

Appearance: Dark Blonde Hair, poor clothing style
Traits: Slob, Childish, Clumsy
Aspiration: Pick whatever you'd like. (Your goal this
generation is only to become a Mermaid and have your heir)
Occupation: Part Time Jobs ONLY
House Goal: None
Lot Trait: Off the Grid

A/N: This challenge is written in first person, and I started her as a teen for the purpose of the story. Now that we're in Sulani.. I'll tell you, I find that "Off the Grid" Lot Trait REALLY hard to play with. It makes taking care of your sim SO much harder. As it should be. As things progressed and I was able to afford some "luxuries" (read: higher quality items), it did get a little easier. But be forewarned.. this is NOT an easy challenge!

My second day in paradise began with taking the bus to work, doing my shift, and heading back. Exciting, huh? After getting home, however, the fun began. I immediately swam out to the volcanic island to check out that cave. I had to take several trips into it, but before long, I hit pay dirt.

I saw an actual mermaid! I knew they existed! Nobody was going to believe me, however, so I kept going back to the cave, trying to catch another glimpse.. or maybe some other form of proof.

It was late before I realized it, and I swam home (I still can't get over being able to write "home" and mean it!) in the dark and a pouring rainstorm. I took a brief detour to snorkel at a known dolphin location, but I didn't see anything particularly exciting. What I was thinking I would see in the dark, I don't know... but whatever. It had been a great birthday.... even if I didn't have a way to bake a cake (or the know-how).

The next day was overcast, but at least it wasn't raining. It didn't look like it was going to stay that way, however, so I skipped going out to the cave and went hunting for dolphins. Admittedly, most of the day was spent beach-combing while waiting for the elusive beasts to show up.. but they finally did. I talked to them, and fed them some bait fish I'd brought along, and before long one of them had apparently decided I was an "okay" human and let me pet it!

Later that day, I went to the bar to get some connectivity on my phone, and found a second job - babysitting. Now that I was officially an adult, I could get away with two part time jobs since I didn't have "school". (Like I had gone to that since I ran away from home.)

Between my two jobs, my new obsession with the dolphins, and exploring the cave, I barely had a spare moment. Summer passed by before I'd known it, and half of the fall, too. I could now get the dolphin to do tricks for me, and I'd named it "Echo". Still wasn't sure whether it was a girl or a boy.. but that was okay. We were good friends.

I hadn't found anything in the way of proof of mermaids, either.. but I was still looking. Things at home were looking up.. I'd been able to afford an upgrade to my bathroom - I now had a bathtub/shower combo.. and I had added on to my hut the beginnings of a real vintage kitchen.

On Harvestfest, my home was invaded by magical gnomes.. that didn't like me very much. After giving them gifts and pleading with them didn't work.. I took them to town and sold them. Maybe they wouldn't come back.

However, angering them had consequences, and I spent the next couple days repairing the bathroom fixtures they broke. Fun.

In the evenings, I found the lot next to mine often had parties where half the town got together for a bonfire with a drink they called "Kava". It was clearly alcoholic, so I didn't partake often (mostly because I usually had to work first thing in the morning), but it was always fun to meet new people. I was starting to make friends around the town, and I was constantly on the lookout for signs one of the people might very well be a mermaid in disguise. Everyone denied it, however, and usually I got laughed at for my obsession.

Some of the locals taught me how to dance with fire, and I practiced every chance I got, and I thought I was getting pretty good. At least I wasn't burning myself very often anymore!

Back at home, I had finally been able to afford a fridge to store my food. Without electricity, I had to get a very old fashioned one and keep it stocked with ice, but I finally was able to keep food. No more nightmares like this spoiled grilled cheese... And the gas stove allowed me to eat novelties like, yes, grilled cheese... even though I was still learning this whole cooking thing. Without a library in town, and no interest in "wasting" my money on a bookshelf and book collection just yet, learning new things was pretty much trial and error.

Having a real table and chairs to eat at, however, was so amazing. My next purchase was upgrading the air mattress I slept on.. but I was really starting to feel like I had a real home. I had a place to escape the rain, at least, and I was thoroughly glad to finally be able to cook INSIDE.

Chapter 0.2 | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 0.4