Welcome to madebysimblr, the story-centric side blog to @madebycoffee . The main story here is the Cortes Legacy, which has been going since 2017. Below the cut are links to starting points, character pages, extra resources, and more!
BTW The Cortes Legacy & The Steele Legacy do deal with adult themes at times. Overall I'd say my story is 18+ but reader discretion is advised <3
Generation 1: Maia
Read From The Beginning
Character Page (Spoilers!)
Generation 2: Susanna
Read From Gen 2
Character Page (Spoilers!)
Generation 3: Xavier
Read From Gen 2.3 (In between stage)
Read From Gen 3
Character Page (Spoilers!)
Generation 4: Sorella (Current Generation!)
Read From Gen 3.4 (In between stage)
Read From Gen 4
💕Cortes Legacy Side Quest: Envy and Spike
Character Page (Spoilers!)
Princess & Me is the unofficial start of the Steele Legacy, it's happens in between Gen 3.4 and Gen 4 of the Cortes legacy!
Princess & Me
Read Here!
Character Page (Spoilers!)
Chapter One
Chapter One occurs in the time jump from Sorella being a teen to her being a young adult in Gen 4!
Read here! (Would recc. reading Princess and Me first!)
Family Trees (Spoilers Ahead!)
Cortes l Ford l Steele l Harrington l Royal
Simple Legacy Map (subject to change at any time)
Sometimes I Share Poses!
This legacy has been a side project of mine since 2017, and some years I'm more into it than others. However, I love this legacy (and all the little spin offs I do) with my whole heart. If you are brave enough to start from the beginning, you'll see how far I've come. When I started this I didn't use CC, didn't know how to hide plumbobs, and didn't even know how to make poses. Simblr means so much to me and I'm so glad to have a place to be ~creative~ and meet so many wonderful people.
Axel: Hey! Feels like I haven't seen ya in ages! Hair looks nice. One of the Buns too, right?
Cordy: Awh, thanks. Don't have the time to dye it right now, and long hair with 3 newborns is a hassle anyway. But yeah! This one is Saturn. He's been clingy recently, but I needed to get out into the world today. It's so good to be back here. How's everything been going?
Axel: Been really good. Sales are steady, and more people have been comin' to the weekend shows. Ship is running smoothly. Have y'decided what to do with the apartment?
Cordy: Sorta. My dad is looking in on what we're allowed to do in terms of renovations. Might be some limitations, but if possible we're going to expand upstairs.
Axel: Oh nice.
Vera: Hey Auntie! Hey Axel! Here to clock in!
Cordy: Means you can be done for the day, if you want.
Axel: Kay! See ya later.
Vera: Hiiiii Saturn!!! How are you today??
Saturn coos
Vera: Ugh! He is too cute. I have something to talk to you about.
Cordy: What's that?
Vera: I got approved to study abroad next semester! In Sulani!
Cordy: Oh congrats! Ah, we'll need to see who can take your place...
Vera: Yup. Amina's sister, Gabrielle is interested…. But def don't hire her. She just has a crush on Axel.
Cordy: [laughs] Everyone does. For once I might hire out. Get someone other than family. Where in Sulani will you be?
Vera: Oh the main island, the school is right in downtown Ohan'ali.
Cordy: Nice. In that case I'm going to give you Spike Dolan's information. He's the drummer for Mystress-
Vera: I know that!
Cordy: Yes, you know everything. Spike also lives around Ohan'ali. I think. At the very least he and his dad have a dive shop there. Good for you to already know someone in the area.
👀so i was doing srs pet sitting since the 30th and I got done with it yesterday. i also turned 31 yesterday WOW. anyway, was too worn out to sim but have been thinking about them A LOT. Hopefully over the next week I can get into the swing of things, and also get a bit of a buffer. Because lol, I also have 2 weeks of pet sitting happening at the end of the month.
Axel: She's providin' moral support while I do some thumbnails for tour posters.
Sorella: Not Rocky?
Axel: Rocky'll put 'em together, but up to me to brainstorm.
Sorella: Ah got it. Didn't mean to interrupt.
Axel: Nah! You're helpin' with the creative vibe!
Sorella: If you're making posters, are the tour dates all finalized?
Envy: [exasperated sigh] No. A few of the venues are giving us the runaround STILL. Saying our streaming numbers aren't good enough for them to book us. Joey is looking at a few backups. Hopefully they work out better. It's just rude!
Sorella: Seriously rude, don't they know Mystress is the next big thing?
Envy: Right!? Whatever... It'll all work out. I know it.
Axel: It will. Don't worry. Hear back from any of your auditions?
Sorella: Nope. I'm not really surprised. I didn't really fit any of the parts I tried out for. Deja hasn't heard back from any either, so we might come up with something to keep us busy for the fall. A cabaret maybe. Her day job SUCKS, oh which reminds does remind me- thanks again for convincing me to quit the pub.
Envy: [laughs] You're welcome!! And you didn't think you were good enough for sessions work!
Sorella: I don't know why I ever doubted you.
Envy: You really should know better by now! I know everything.
Dear Diary,
I suppose I can finish up this one before I buy a new one. Though, I think my therapist would tell me a fresh one is better or whatever. I don't feel like going to get one and there's pages here. I'm about to be divorced. I have two daughters that I love more than anything in the world. I was still pregnant with Juliana the last time I wrote in this. Wasn't even married yet. Had no idea what the next few years had in store for me. I don't really want to write about that right now.
Today was the one day every 2 weeks or so that Otis can stop by to visit. Oh yeah, that's another new thing. I'm dating Otis Marroquin. It started out as an affair, but we've been officially dating for a little over a month now. It's night and day from dating or even being married to.. well you know.
Otis is amazing with both of the girls. They get so excited when he gets here. Kitty continues to be an overachiever, she's already able to walk little distances, and for Otis she'll waddle as fast as her legs can carry her. I'm starting to think she might not really know who Mat- "he" is to her. I don't particularly feel bad about that. Otis does so much for them. He's incredibly patient with Juli, that's what I notice the most. He plays with them, too. It's not beneath him to get on the floor and play dolls or princess or whatever they want. It's precious to see.
Then, he makes sure to spend time with me. Still with the girls nearby, but his focus is on me. That's so new. He asks about what I've been up to. He agreed with my therapist that writing would be a good outlet for me. But mostly we do talk about everything he's doing. He's really busy... I worry that he's going to overdo it.
He can't ever stay for very long. He has an alarm on his phone for when he needs to go catch the last train of the day. He isn't happy when it goes off. The girls aren't either. They do their best sad eyes to try to get him to stay, but again he's so good with them. He manages to make them simply excited for when he can next be here.
I won't let him see it, but that doesn't really work on me. I keep it together in front of the girls, but it hurts how much I miss him when he leaves. One day it won't be like this. Right?
until later, Gemma St. John.
Charlene: Now that it's been a little bit of time, have you settled on a hobby for yourself?
Gemma: Oh. Not really. I've not been good at anything I've tired.
Charlene: I'll remind you that you don't have to automatically good at a hobby. Nor is that even the long term goal. What have you tried so far?
Gemma: Right. [sighs] I considered taking up an instrument, but music isn't really my thing. I'm no good at singing. I tried knitting, but it makes me feel so constricted. Wasn't fun. Painting or drawing wasn't much better.
Charlene: Mhmm.
Gemma: One thing might work… I found my old diary. I've been cleaning out my room. Getting new furniture. Going to paint it. I spent so much time in here with Matty. The more I change the better it feels. Anyway, found my diary in a box and read through it. It was…. Embarrassing to read. The things I thought were important. The way I talked about people. Yikes. But I thought it might be nice to pick writing back up.
Charlene: I think that's an excellent idea. Whether it is journaling or you lean more towards creative writing.
Gemma: I think so too.
Charlene: I look forward to hearing about your writing next week. Same time?
Gemma: Yes, please. Thank you.
The doorbell rings.
Dario: The fuck do you want?
Anna: I'm here to see my grandchildren.
Dario: Nope.
Anna: Excuse me?
Dario: No entry. Not without calling first. Today isn't a good day for it.
Anna: [scoffs] Gemima I know you're listening, come speak to me like an adult.
Dario: Bit-
Gemma: I've got this, Dario. First of all, Anna. Please don't call me that. My name is Gemma. It's really nice that you want to visit the girls, but today doesn't work.
Anna: Why not!?
Gemma: We're expecting family to come over ourselves. I don't want to overwhelm them.
Anna: Oh. Well of course not. I didn't realize you had any extended family.
Gemma: I do. If you don't mind, we need to get some things done before they get here.
Anna: Certainly. I'll call you tomorrow? Plan a time?
Gemma: That would be good. Have a nice day.
the door locks
Dario: Extended family, huh?
Gemma: Sort of the truth. If I said “their real dad” she would have lost her mind. Even though I'd love to tell her to shove it, I'm rising above. I'll be polite, but not a doormat. It's less stressful.
Dario: I guess. What do you need to do before Otis gets here?
Gemma: Get things set out to bake cookies. That's what Juli wants to do.
Justin: Rae. New guitarist. So far he seems like a good fit!
Sorella: Oh nice, Noel came through!
Justin: Yeah! Went to college with this guy. He just finished his degree, but is willing to give being in a band a go. Lucky for us! Should be able to finish the album in a couple months now.
Sorella: Cool.
Rae: That's everything for the day, right?
Justin: Yup, you're done! I need to go grab Scott, and then we can start on your part, Sorella.
Sorella: Sure, no rush.
Rae: You the bassist?
Sorella: No, that's Simone. I'm the temp hire for piano.
Rae: Oh right, Justin mentioned that. Be honest with me, did I sound ok? It's been a minute since I played guitar.
Sorella: You sounded great. I would never have known.
Rae: Phew.
Sorella: Why has it been a minute?
Rae: Oh. Was something I used to do with an ex of mine. Played before I met them, but they taught me most of what I know. Kinda soured me on it afterwards.
Sorella: Totally understand.
Rae: Makes no sense to continue to let him have any power over me like that, so I thought I'd give it a try in a band!
Sorella: I'm assuming it ended badly?
Rae: [snorts] To put it lightly. He was definitely just using me until some friend of his got back in town. Not my imagination, either. Told me as much. Asshole.
Sorella: Seriously! My last ex hid from me the fact that he was married with kids.
Rae: Holy shit, what the hell!? You've got me beat! What in the world is wrong with people?
Sorella: [laughs] A question for the ages. What was your plan before getting roped into a band?
Rae: Great question. I hadn't figured it out. [laughs] Think this is one of those "things happen for a reason" moments. What do you normally do if this is just a temporary gig?
Sorella: Sessions work, which supplements my stage acting career. That's my main focus.
Rae: Oh cool! Is there a big theater scene in Windenburg?
Sorella: Not really, but I live in the city. So I have Off-Uptown to work with.
Rae: Right, duh. If I could I'd live in the city. Can't afford it without roommates.
Otis Marroquin 💜: looks like I can make it over next weekend? Afternoon...ish?
Gemma: Ok! That'd be nice. See you then.
Otis Marroquin 💜: Can't wait! 😄
Dario: What's up, squirt?
Gemma: [JUMPS] Nothing.
Dario: Sorry to startle you. Didn't mean to.
Gemma: I know. Not your fault. I'm still so... whatever.
Dario: [sighs] Texting Otis?
Gemma: Yeah. He's gonna come over next weekend.
Dario: Hmm.
Gemma: What?
Dario: I guess I thought he'd be around more now that you don't have to hide.
Gemma: All of his classes this year are in the morning. Then he works in the afternoon. Only has the evenings to do all the school work he has. Law school is a lot. On top of that he doesn't have a car and the trains aren't constant to the Bay like they are elsewhere.
Dario: Kay.
Gemma: And he does text practically all day. Calls nearly every day to talk to me and the girls. Which means he's doing more than Matty ever did.
Dario: Ok! Didn't mean to strike a nerve, squirt. Just was a little concerned.
Gemma: Sorry. I didn't like what you were insinuating.
Dario: It's ok. I'm sorry too. Still a bit protective of you.
Gemma: I know. [phone chimes] I really do appreciate it. That alarm means it's time for my therapy appointment.
Dario: I'll keep the kiddos entertained. Have a good session.
-
Charlene: Good afternoon, Gemma. Is there anything specific you would like to bring up before we begin?
Gemma: Yes. I won't be able to see Otis again for another week.
Charlene: Ah. That continues to be difficult for you.
Gemma: [sighs] Yes. I don't want to come off as too needy, but it's hard.
Charlene: Have you spoken to him about this yet?
Gemma: No. And I really don't want to. It's just going to make him feel bad that he can't get out here more.
Charlene: Have you reconsidered making a trip to campus to visit him yourself?
Silence.
Charlene: I'll take that as a no.
Gemma: I just.... It makes me so anxious to leave the house. People stare at me. Have you been sleeping any better?
Gemma: [sighs] No. Nearly every night this week I've had nightmares. Again. When they wake me up I can't get back to sleep.
Charlene: I see. If you can, I think we should start with the subject of the nightmares.
To Those Interested: Matthew Mason was charged with 2 counts of assault, tried as misdemeanors. He was able to reach an agreement with the courts that in lieu of jail time, he would admit himself into a mental health facility. He will be in said facility for 60 days. He also paid a sizable fine, including covering hospital bills for Otis Marroquin and Dario St. John.
Sorella: Happy birthday, Dad!
Trey: Thanks, kid.
Aiden: Dad says that your present is letting me stay at your place for a weekend!
Sorella: Oh does he?
Trey: [laughs] I suggested it, that's all!
Aiden: Pleeeeease Sorelly??
Sorella: This weekend work?
Trey: It does.
Sorella: Pick you up after school on Friday?
Aiden: [gasps!] YEAH!
Sorella: It's a plan. Enjoy the alone time. I'll bring him back Sunday.
Trey: Thank you. In time for dinner?
Sorella: Sure.
Xavier mouths 'thank you', Sorella simply smiles and shrugs.
-
Susanna: Have fun with Aiden for the weekend, he can be such a handful.
Sorella: Hey that's my brother you're talking about!
Susanna: [laughs] Terribly sorry. Xavier said you had been here for a few nights recently. How come we didn't get a visit?
Sorella: Oh [sighs]. I was really only in town to visit a friend in the hospital. Stuff got complicated and I needed to get out of this place.... Sometimes it's too small town for me.
Susanna: I see. Which friend?
Sorella: Otis.
Susanna: Oh.
Sorella: That's a knowing “oh."
Susanna: Well. You said it, it's a small town. Everyone heard about what happened with the Masons. It made the local news that Matthew got arrested. Made even bigger news that he's not going to prison.
Sorella: Yeah. Having seen firsthand the damage he did... I'd say I can't believe it, but he's got money. Of course I can believe it. Still is bullshit.
Susanna: Agreed. Am I right to remember that Gemma was your friend too?
Sorella: Sort of, not really. That's what's complicated. She was awful to me in high school. I was prepared and happy to never see her again after graduation. But now… She's dating Otis. He's actively parenting her kids, so it's not just a fling. She'll be around if I'm still friends with him.
Susanna: Ah. That is complicated. What are you going to do about it?
Sorella: Nothing, really. Otis and Summer both are convinced she's changed from who she was. That's good. Doesn't mean I have to all of a sudden be her bestie. She'll probably tag along if I invite Otis to anything. That's fine.
Oh hey, it's been a couple months! But we're so back :)
Where we left off: Sorella, Envy, and Axel living their best life in the city! Summer has just gotten hitched. Cordy welcomed 3 new little terrors to her life. Gemma escaped the hell she was living in. and our favorite rock band, Mystress has released their first album and is looking to tour 👀
Sorella: Hey Joey! Am I too early?
Joey: Not at all. Justin Welsh, Simone Montes, this is Sorella Cortes.
Sorella: So nice to meet you.
Justin: Likewise. Is there anything else we need to do or can we get to work?
Joey: Nothing else. The studio is yours every week at this time. If you need more time in it, let me know.
Justin: Thanks, Joey. The album isn't nearly as done as I'd like it, but getting you to work should help. There's only a couple of songs I don't think need piano… But I'm not entirely sure.
Simone: You'll learn quick, Sorella. He's got no time for pleasantries. Only business.
Justin: Hey!
Simone: Dude, you didn't even ask her how she was!
Justin: I assume fine! She's here to work, right?
Sorella: [laughs] I am. It's ok. I get it! When you're this close to finishing an album it's all you can think about.
Justin: See? She gets me.
Sorella: [nods] My roommates are in a band. They just finished their album this year so this is all familiar to me.
Simone: Which band?
Sorella: Mystress. I live with their singer and guitarist.
Justin: Oh yeah... Envy's the singer, right? She reached out to work together.
Sorella: Mhmm. She says Blue Romance will make it big.
Justin: Oh I like her. Course, we need to find our own guitarist first.
Simone: Noel said he knows someone.
Justin: Yeah, but that's so unknown. I don't suppose you play guitar too?
Sorella: I do, but I don't really want to be in a rock band.
Justin: Fair enough. Anyway. Far too much small talk, thanks Simone.
Simone: Anytime.
Justin: I have one song in particular that I want piano on. I've got a pretty decent idea of how I want it to go, too. After that it's a bit fuzzier.
I did have a post scheduled for today BUT I'm pushing it to tomorrow so I can get another one done before I'm back for realsies. I got a bit distracted with Paralives yesterday lol.
..... It's been nearly a year since I shared out any poses here oopsie. I still have thousands of poses I could share. So this is actually your reminder that if you see some poses in a post of mine that you would like, uhhhh let me know! Otherwise I will promptly forget they exist and they will never see the light of day again 😃
Anyway poses made for Envy and Takuya. See them in action here.
-
Comes with 7 poses! 6 couple poses, and 1 solo pose. (You know he had to do it to em.)
Feat. the things I've been doing in game to somewhat prepare for the next part of the legacy.
-Playing through milestones with Cordy & the Princelings.
-Aging up 1 Katrina Mason (altho she has different hair now. She looks sm like Gemma)
-Hanging with the trio (when i load into a lot Sorella and Envy are almost always in Axel's room 🥺🥰) Spinning them in CAS a lot.
-And doing some building. A park in Brindleton Bay. A house in Granite Falls.
Going on a medium sized Hiatus! IDK how long in actuality. But I know that I need a BREAK. From Amina's wedding reception -> most recent post I've considered it the 3rd part of Sorella/Gen 4's YA years and the next part is gonna require a lot of set up on my part. I want some time to decompress first.
Whilst I'm on Hiatus I will obvs still be around. I might post a random thing here and there but no story posts. Pls accept my crude hiatus list:
There are a couple of stories I want to start/catch up on👀
Gen 4's character page needs updating. Lotta changes since I first made it. I've actually just finished doing this!
If you've never checked out my character pages there's one for each of the Generations and Princess & Me! Didn't make one for the side quest as the 3 important people from that are a part of Gen 4's. Mostly just wanted to update photos, add a guy, and then take out some of the teens I had initially put on there but I don't think I'll focus on. (Vera and Charlotte are the two teens that are sticking on there. I have ideas for both oOOOOO)
Gonna share some poses probably.
Set up for BIG THING includes a need for sims 👀 Hopefully some people will send em in b/c last time I tried to get sim it didn't work out lol.
anywei... Let you know when the legacy is back :3 it'll be back eventually dw.
In short: I've been really enjoying doing non sims things over the last month. Specifically drawing/art adjacent things have been more fulfilling and that's been a nice surprise. Baseball is in full swing and I can draw during a game and it's a good escape. (I even went to a game and brought my sketchpad with me!)
Right now I'm in the midst of painting/redesigning my 'walk in closet' (it's a bathroom that only has a working sink lol.) and that is ALSO a lot of fun but I should be done with it by the end of the week.
don't worry tho this is not me saying I'm done with the legacy. Just that this hiatus is gonna be longer than I expected. When I do return I'm thinking that I might scale back again with how often i post. IDK we'll see. There is a nonzero chance once I've finished the aforementioned walk in closet shenanigans I will focus back on sims.
Going on a medium sized Hiatus! IDK how long in actuality. But I know that I need a BREAK. From Amina's wedding reception -> most recent post I've considered it the 3rd part of Sorella/Gen 4's YA years and the next part is gonna require a lot of set up on my part. I want some time to decompress first.
Whilst I'm on Hiatus I will obvs still be around. I might post a random thing here and there but no story posts. Pls accept my crude hiatus list:
There are a couple of stories I want to start/catch up on👀
Gen 4's character page needs updating. Lotta changes since I first made it. I've actually just finished doing this!
If you've never checked out my character pages there's one for each of the Generations and Princess & Me! Didn't make one for the side quest as the 3 important people from that are a part of Gen 4's. Mostly just wanted to update photos, add a guy, and then take out some of the teens I had initially put on there but I don't think I'll focus on. (Vera and Charlotte are the two teens that are sticking on there. I have ideas for both oOOOOO)
Gonna share some poses probably.
Set up for BIG THING includes a need for sims 👀 Hopefully some people will send em in b/c last time I tried to get sim it didn't work out lol.
anywei... Let you know when the legacy is back :3 it'll be back eventually dw.