Chapter 0.18 | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 1.2

Generation One: Black

Appearance: Black hair, siren-like clothing style
Traits: Evil, Non Committal, Kleptomaniac
Aspiration: Renaissance Sim
Occupation: Collector/Random careers of choice
House Goal: 10,000 worth

(A/N: Welcome to generation one, where everything is themed black. It's also where I decided to start naming these chapters. Simply because I had a name that just wouldn't get out of my head. lol. Enjoy!)

Corina Strikes Out

Well, I guess it's my turn. I always knew that since I was the girl of the family, I would be the one to strike out on my own as Mom had done. Luckily, she didn't make me start with nothing in a nowhere place. - I may have nothing, but at least I have a place. I've always loved the volcano.. so I chose a lot that is closest to it. Dangerous? Probably. But I like to live on the edge. Supposely theres volcanic activity on this lot, but I will have to see it to believe it. For now, though, all I have is me.. and a mailbox. Surely things couldn't get much worse.

So... Money. I see no need to restrict myself from getting a decent job like mom did to spend more time with us kids (which I respect... I just don't choose to do it that way...), and going into space sounds like fun... so I joined SpaceY as their new astronaut-in-training. My first shift wasn't for a couple of days, however, so the initial paycheck for my "good grades" promotions came in handy.

I was able to buy myself a campsite.. of sorts. I come to regret at least one of my purchases and return it.. but we'll get to that. My first work task is to raise my logic skill. I also need to do that for my aspiration, Renaissance Sim .. so I bought a chess table. I could only afford one chair - but who was going to play me way up here? I also bought a fire ring, and a bed. Well, it's really just an air mattress, but it'll let me get some sleep tonight. The other thing I needed to do was read some books. But since I didn't have any, that would have to wait.

After a while of playing chess, I got bored, so I went to explore my new surroundings.

There was a beach just down the hill from my house, and there I ran into a beautiful man by the name of Tamati. We talked for a while.. and I tried flirting.. but he just didn't seem to be interested. Found out he's a conservationist out here in the "park" area of the islands - apparently most the people I meet out here probably will be. Since this is the part they're trying to conserve. The place looks fine to me, I don't know what needs fixing.. but that's just me.

Very quickly, I realize the error of my spending ways. I had forgotten a bathroom. Luckily, there was one on the beach not far from my home.. but that was a little bit too far away for convenience.

So, I made my first phone call from my new, improved cellular service. No dropped calls and I could even access the internet from my phone now! No way was I living "off the grid" like Mom and the way I grew up! I was all about technology, all the way. Anyway. My first call was to arrange for someone to take away that silly expensive fire ring, and bring me a toilet and a cooler of food.

I assure you, both were much appreciated by the time they were delivered. And so began my first night of literally camping out on my home lot. I knew mom had done this for weeks before she had been able to afford a roof over her head.. but I had no intention of doing the same.

So.. I worked REALLY hard at work, and came home with a promotion. The bonus they gave me was enough to build at least a roof and four walls. And a second chair for my table.. because.. really.. who has a chess table with only one chair? I also swiped a book to read from work. What? I could return it. If I wanted... it wasn't like they didn't have a whole library there. They could do without a book.

Oh yeah, I bought a trash can, too. One of those necessities you forget about until you need it. And mom had drilled cleanliness into us.. so leaving stuff around really bothered me. I needed more logic skill for work.. so that's all I spent my afternoon doing. (After a swim, of course). I really wanted that next promotion.

... And I got it! Enough to build a little bathroom. Because who wants to "go" in the same place that they eat and sleep? Really? Nobody. Finally, I was getting somewhere. I had a decent job, and a home... (another book to read...)

....and the ocean to swim in. What more can a girl ask for??

After another couple days.. I realized exactly what was missing. Family. Friends. Some eye candy to look at? *giggles* .. So on my day off, I invited Loario over to visit my little island.

He seemed happy to see me, although a little surprised at how "primitive" my living conditions were. Shows what he knows. This is the lap of luxury compared to what I started with!

I talked him into playing some chess, and we had an enjoyable afternoon. We ate some yummy granola for lunch, and generally had fun talking about the islands we both grew up on.

When he had to go for a short while to "take care of some business", I took advantage of the time, and did some quick house cleaning. Took a little sponge bath in the sink, too, to make sure I was presentable. Then I put on my cutest bikini.. and prepared to get a boyfriend.

Sigh. Unfortunately, Loario wasn't in a similar mood.. and my flirting quickly devolved into him yelling at me for ruining a good friendship.. and him storming off my beach. Well then. Rude!

I still had time, though. I called up my old friend Manuia, and invited him out to my home. He showed up in a hurry, which I took to be a good sign, and we quickly renewed our friendship.

He looked good all grown up! We talked for quite a while, catching up... but I could sense no flirting in his words.

So, finally, I made the first move. Things seemed to be going well at first.. until I moved into him for a first kiss...

... And got completely shut down. Sigh. Today is just not my day. Manuia left.. and I wondered if I had ruined that friendship for good. Probably. Hard to recover from that sort of embarrassment. I buried myself in my sleeping bag for a while, crying, then decided playing chess was a more useful .. well, use of my time.

Chess by yourself is pretty boring. But at least it gets me closer to my goals. I need more skills, though. And for those.. I need more things to work on my skills WITH. And that requires money. Back in that big loop.... so chess was what I did. Because that's what would get me promotions and more money.

I really was going to have to upgrade my food situation soon, too. There's only so much granola, yogurt, and cereal one can eat before it starts to get old. I was really starting to miss Mom's cooking. And considering that was mostly salads.. that was saying a lot. I guess I still have a long way to go. But, as Mom always said.. I have hope. That's what gets you through the days. Things will get better. Why? Because I'll MAKE them better!

Chapter 0.18 | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 1.2