Crane Song (A Story-Based Legacy)

In which I relay the goings-on of founder Victoria Crane, her roommate Kristi-Lin Bartholomew, and the Sims of San Myshuno and its outlying towns. (WCIF Friendly! I'm chatty too!)

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It’s been a long time, Simblr friends.

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Happy New Years!

Hey guys just wanted to wish you all a good new year and thank you all for supporting enjoying the content this blog has to offer. And guess what?

This blog has been around for an entire year! And you know what that mean!!!

Happy 1 year Anniversary!!!🎊🎉🎉🎉🎊

It has been a blast being able to make funny content for you, and with the new year getting underway I hope for a even better year with even better memories with everyone.

I’ve gotten to meet, chat and laugh with so many of you, you’ve really made the mentally and emotionally strenuous 2k17 bearable. Little note for those who don’t know, I have high functioning depression (which in the time span of running this blog has improved from clinical depression).

This blog has made managing it loads easier, giving me an fun, creative and social outlet that’s not too taxing. And when I’ve seen comments on my silly, little TS4 posts saying ‘Lol wtf’ or 'Lmao this really made my day’ it’s such an instant boost to my day you have no idea. It gave me a reason to stay positive and seek out positivity (such as videos like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wljikdPTd5Y). 

In doing so my state of mind has improved, prompting me to improve my quality of life as well. :D

So again, I just wanted to thank you all for making last year a real blast. Now I normally don’t do this but I wanted to give special thanks to the following blog and say that I love the content you produce (whether it be art, slice of life, comedy or drama), it has been there to either inspire me to make my own content or just brightened my day, and will forever follow you (till the end of time XD):

@the-enderwolf-princess @simreject @rosiesimming @nervous—subject @suintor @jayeless @zotigkeit @vicarious-sims @daylightdisco @trembling-hands @trashcansims @passiberri @bullsim @josiesimblr @sparkiemonkey @dashingthruthesims @benfyq @aapollo @omgrosieshome @the-crane-simblr @kanozzo @simegasims @treason-and-plot @eslanes @sundaessims @jynxtaposition @bonefucker-sanstasies @yarnusthegreat @eggalovania @sunflowersim @simpeople @asmallplumbob @blindingechoes @suspiciouslypinklady @piggymoo @vividlore@squeamishsimmer @sarangimjaebum @thespangleway @cyberqueen-13 @drippy-candles @simfopdoodle @intergaylacticsims @plasma-jane @cozylemonade @anotherplumbob @churrosims @beesimss @a-kind-red @hushthots @felicitum@gh0ulishness @crankysims@ithacametis @manueapinny @plumbobsquad @shespeakssimlish @applekissims @josimblr @anchoredsims @zandraart @cursetale @stuffedart @clemendew @hnerysims @brazenlotus @budgie2budgie @leeleesims1 @simmmbop @zerbu @zarla-s @itadakimasu-letmeeat @wrinru @k-eke

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Following you till the end of time, elkbees.

I also have major depression, as probably made evident by some of my posts. So when I tell you that this means the world for me to see, you know I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

I hope 2018 is incredible for you. ❤

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Selfie Sunday because my life (and this blog)'s in a rut. So remember when I told you guys ages ago that Victoria was intended to be a self-insert so I could work on how characters on writing relate to one another? I low-key meant she's a self-insert in every way (except for being prettier, the lip ring and the tattoos). I've cut my hair shorter since this picture was taken. But yeah. Help me fix this legacy in 2018, y'all.

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Cuties on a day trip. 

(Just wanted to share that I’ve not trashed the legacy - they’re all still close to my heart and I love them)

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This blog did not and will not send requests for bitcoin donations.

There seems to be a virus or some sort of malware going around causing blogs to “send out” chat messages to blogs that they follow asking for help with the purchase of certain items through donations of seemingly small amounts using bitcoin and adds a link to the message.

The message goes as following (at least the first message I got went like this): “Hi there buddy. I need help, I’m trying to buy a laptop and I can’t afford it. I’m about 0.36$ short, and I’d really appreciate if you could help me and transfer some money to me via bitcoin using this *link*.”

The small details in the message seems to have a few variations with the greeting, amount and purchased item showing up in different variations from formal to friendly, from 0.016 to 2$ and from a phone case to a laptop among others.

The blogs that are affected send out the messages to blogs that they follow for a long time mostly, so you are most likely to receive the message from a long time, active follower whose name you might recognize or a mutual etc. The blogs that are affected are not spam bots but actual active followers who follow the recipient for months or years and most likely the blogger who “sent” the message is unaware of the message being sent.

DO NOT OPEN THE LINK.

Opening up the link will cause the virus to spread even more and infect your computer/mobile with any sort of malware.

If you have received a message of that sort from this blog please know that it was not sent by me or within my control and ignore/delete the message without clicking the link.

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I'm not very active anymore, but I would like to put this up in the event someone gets a possible message from "me."

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Victoria looked up from her failing game of Blickblock as Kristi-Lin shouted for her. The smell of cooking peppers and spices wafted under the door, making her mouth water. It had been a good while since she had eaten.... I can just come back in here, she thought, bracing herself for the crowd of people in the den.

“So? Does it have the McAlister seal of approval?” Jesminder asked, watching as Cormac feigned deliberation, holding a bite of his taco in his mouth dramatically. 

“I suppose, for rabbit food, it’s....” Cormac trailed off as Victoria walked behind him to the table. Noticing the stare from Jesminder, he continued. “Not bad.” The rest of the group clapped, and dug into their food. 

“So I have this theory about who Jake Wind’s mother is in ‘Game of Moans...’” Jesminder started, drawing everyone into the table into conversation and casually blowing Kristi-Lin’s mind.

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 Later that night...

“Man, I think I pulled something in that last round of GoldBox Bowling,” Cormac said, stretching and grimacing behind the couch. Jesminder stood at the stove, laughing as a pan of veggies sizzled in front of her. She had arrived soon after the Party Frenzy incident, and had offered to cook dinner for the group instead of pitching in on takeout.

Cormac walked over to her, glowering at the vegetables. “Vegetarian tacos, Jes? You think that’ll lure The Recluse out of Kristi’s room?” 

Jesminder gave Cormac a dirty look, and he held his hands up in self-defense. “She’s scared, Cormac,” she chided, adding some seasoning to the pan. “I think she wants to meet people - she just doesn’t know how.”

“It’s easy,” Cormac shot back. “You come out of hiding, you talk, you make a few jokes, you make some friends. That’s it!” He reached for a shell, and Jesminder swatted his hand away. “She’s not even trying. I don’t know why you and Kristi are bothering with her.”

“Some people take a little more encouragement than others,” she responded, ladling some veggies into a taco shell and handing the plate to Cormac. “Arun still doesn’t like to talk to my family.” Cormac shrugged, and bit into his taco. Kristi-Lin turned in her seat on the couch.

“Hey, Vicks! Jesminder cooked some food!” she called. “Come get some!” 

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“You shelled ME, asshole,” Akira shouted as his car spun out on the screen. “How does that even happen?” 

“Banana, I guess, I don’t know,” Cormac grumbled as he and Kristi entered the last lap of the race, not noticing as the bedroom door creaked open and Victoria cautiously poked her head out. Kristi-Lin had left some dishes next to her computer, and they were really cluttering up her work place. 

She turned as she walked to watch the game conclude, Cormac savagely bumping his cartoonish vehicle into the back of Kristi’s, spinning them both out. A smile touched Victoria’s face. That was how game nights usually ended with her family back home - with Dad being in the lead, and Natalie trying her best to sabotage him. She supposed she was feeling a little homesick.

She lingered a moment to see Akira fly past Cormac and Kristi, stealing the win from them with a giant smile plastered on his face. “Eat that, you scrubs!” he shouted, throwing his fist into the air. Cromac and Kristi cheered, the tension gone from the room.

Victoria slowly crept back into the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. She hadn’t realized how alone she had been feeling the past few weeks. With the exception of Kristi, Diego and some of her interviewers, she hadn’t spoken to more than a handful of people since she had moved to San Myshuno. Part of her wanted to get out and make friends, but it was so hard. She never knew what to say to others, or how to say it. It seemed that she always made a fool of herself when she tried to talk about things she was interested in. She sighed, staring at the blinking cursor on the computer monitor. 

She didn’t feel much like writing now.

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“You’ll never beat me at Party Frenzy,” Kristi-Lin said haughtily as she started up the GoldBox. 

“I’ll have you know,” Cormac announced. “That I won top prize at GeekCon last year, and I will not be dethroned by a woman.”

Akira shook his head quietly as Kristi-Lin stared Cormac down until he shrank in his seat. “Okay,” she growled. “Now I have to beat you.”

Victoria could hear the commotion through the wall as she typed away. She had long since finished the article she was to write up for the Times, and was now working on a short story for her next collection. It was getting a little hard to concentrate on writing a compelling domestic struggle when the sounds of Kristi-Lin’s guests and the bright music of Party Frenzy was trickling through the cracks in the door. It almost sounded like fun, but she didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of these people. Besides, it would be weird to insert herself into Kristi’s group of friends... wouldn’t it?

Kristi-Lin gripped her controller, leaning with her polygonal car on the television screen, as if it would help her move faster. “It’s so close,” Akira groaned, though he himself was a lap behind Cormac and Kristi.

“It might be close,” Cormac muttered to Akira. “But I’ve got a blue shell up my sleeve.”

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She’s only mostly dead.

I apologize for the long absence from this blog. Work and family have really crowded out much of the time I used to spend playing and editing my pictures for this legacy. And, to be honest, my own story pacing was killing me. While I want to write the best possible story with the most fleshed-out Sims for you guys to enjoy, I realize that that doesn’t always make for a compelling Simblr. 

I had storylines for many of the side characters, like Cormac and Akira, and the yet-unseen Johnny Zest. Vivian’s sister was supposed to make an appearance, as well as Kristi-Lin’s ex. But things were moving at a snail’s pace, and the writing got very tedious, especially with my - frankly - dull screenshots. 

Perhaps, one day, we’ll reboot the story, or continue with what groundwork I’ve laid for the legacy. In the meantime, I just wanted to let you all know that I’m okay. I’m working a lot, and I kind of hate it. But I’m alive, (mostly) mentally sound, and still playing Sims in my downtime. Keep being beautiful. <3

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“Will you at least stay for one of my world-famous stories?” Cormac asked peevishly.

JESUS H. CHRIST CORMAC JUST LET ME LEAVE I CAN’T

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“We don’t bite, promise,” Akira said brightly, giving Cormac a knowing glance. “Kristi already told us not to bother you, but -” 

“Uh, thanks, but no thanks, guys,” Victoria said, her voice shaking a little. “I... really have some writing I have to attend to, and, uh, it’s...”

“Jesminder will be by later,” Kristi interrupted. “She said she’s got a new dish she wants us to try. If you haven’t eaten already, I’ll let her know to make something for you to take back! You can play Party Frenzy with us until she gets here.”

“That’s really appreciated,” Victoria said, trying hard to keep her voice level. “But I think I’ll save the controller for her when she gets here, thanks.” Ugh. It seemed like Kristi-Lin wasn’t even making an effort to respect her wishes. Akira and Cormac seemed okay, but Victoria couldn’t just leap into the group as quickly as Kristi seemed to expect her to.

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That Evening...

Before she even reached the door to the apartment, Victoria could hear the sounds of laughter and a deep male voice emanating from under the door. Taking a deep breath, she turned the key and stepped inside. The blast of noise was palpable. 

Kirsti-Lin was sitting on the couch with two men Victoria hadn’t seen before. The redhead was the one currently speaking. “... So then - you won’t believe this, okay - He goes up to her, and he’s trying so hard to get her to notice him. You’d think that wouldn’t be too hard with that awful shirt he always wears, but - ”

“Hi, roommate,” the other man said, waving at Victoria. She stopped short. Kristi-Lin and the other man turned around.

“You’re back!” Kristi-Lin exclaimed. “Victoria, these are my friends, Akira Kibo and Mack -”

“Cormac,” the redhead interjected.

“Cormac McAlister,” Kristi finished. “Do you want to hang out with us for a bit? You’ve been out all day!”

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“So you’re saying I should withhold good reviews to make them seem more important?” she asked slowly, feeling her cheeks get hot. 

“I’m saying that your respect needs to be earned through the artist’s own merits - not because you feel pity for them,” Lobo said, rising from his seat. “Your investment in your friend’s paintings has me concerned about your ability to analyze art objectively. I’m taking a chance on you, Victoria. You are my protegee. Don’t let me down.”

With that Lobo strode down the hallway towards his private residence. “Until your promotion is official, why don’t you keep up with the small reviews. Go to a coffee house tonight. Find an act. Practice your objectivity. Until next time.”

Victoria sat in stunned silence as the clicking of his designer shoes faded away. Diego Lobo’s protegee. The thought both thrilled and terrified her.

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“Being positive is a wonderful thing,” Lobo said, the air of confidence unceasing on his face. “But it’s not the only thing that matters. Do you know where I’m going with this, Victoria?”

“You think I should be harsher in my review?” she asked incredulously. “Why is this coming up? Terrance Nox gave a genuinely good performance, so I gave a genuinely good review.”

“That’s just it,” Lobo said, pouncing on her words as if she was prey which had stumbled into a trap. “A genuinely good review. That’s wonderful, and rare. As long as you make it rare, Victoria. Your praise should be sought after by artists, not just freely given because you feel for them!”

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They took a seat by the window, on what appeared to be a poker table. Victoria had seen Dr. Weirdlove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Llama. The irony of the green felt, gambling, and her career was not lost on her. In the face of annihilation, all she could do was sit back and laugh. At least, that was what they had told her in film school.

“Should I brace myself?” she asked, running her hands over the table. Lobo chuckled a bit. 

“Not at all,” he replied, seeming to sit taller as he noticed her nervousness. “I would just like to discuss a few things with you before your next article, if you don’t mind. Your critiques are quite different from mine - more optimistic, which seems to have enamored you to everyone at the paper. Hence your upcoming promotion.”

Victoria choked as she gasped in surprise, sending her into a coughing fit. “Pr-promotion?” she sputtered. “Already?”

Lobo smirked and nodded. “Apparently. But that’s not why I wanted you to speak with me.”

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Victoria arrived at Lobo’s office a few hours later riding high on a boost of confidence, making the glass tower seem like an inviting fortress rather than a mountain to scale like it had been before. I’ll be in and out, she thought, waiting outside of his door to be buzzed in. Easy peazy, lemon squeazy.

Lobo was as ridiculously dressed and perfumed as he had been the last time she was there. He greeted her from across the room.  “Ah, Mrs. Crane. We meet again,” he said, striding towards her. “I assume from the reception of your article that things went smoothly for you at the festival?”

Victoria was slightly offended that Lobo didn’t seem to have read her article, but brushed it off quickly. Of course he didn’t read the article. He was Diego Lobo - he had better things to do. She smiled and nodded. “It did! I had a great time there, and Terrance Nox was a fantastic performer. And thank you,” she added,  “For sending Darren to look at my friend’s art. I think he gave her some good advice.”

Lobo nodded as she spoke. “Indeed,” he said. “Let’s just hope you can be as objective about the advice given to you in the future. Let’s have a seat, shall we?”