(As a heads-up: any story text in brackets is characters' thoughts.)
The text-wall is transcribed below, sorry about that.
Ollie thought he was about to lose his job. Worse - he's just realised he's important in the workplace. Well, not really important in this case - just a few things about him that make him better-suited to this in particular.
The Plumbob might have to resort to desperate measures to find out what's truly happening in New Sixam; Estelle believe it's in the interest of the public, especially for the safety of Sixamians, not to mention the terrible implications for nature and the people alike due to the invasive plant species...but that's only the beginning.
The office is from the Gallery, I'll update later on with the creator.
The spelling error on the text message, and the US spellings on the San Myshuno Times newspaper, are both intentional.
Transcript:
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SAN MYSHUNO CITY - 27 YEARS LATER
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Text from Dylan: 'didnt get the job :('
Ollie: *to himself* Let's hope I'm not about to be made redundant, then...
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THE DAILY PLUMBOB - MAIN OFFICE
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Estelle: Ah, wonderful! Just the man I wanted to see. I'm sorry to call you in at such an hour, and on your day off too...
Ollie: Never mind. What do you need?
Ollie's thoughts: (Well, she seems to be in a good mood... a suspiciously-good mood...)
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Estelle: Have you seen the frontpage headlines of the San Myshuno Times this morning? Or the Chestnut Ridge Press?
Ollie: No, I've been awake for less than twenty minutes...
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Estelle: It seems people are desperate to pin the blame on Sixamians for everything once again. Take a look at the first article - it's disgusting. I don't believe a word of it.
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Excerpt from a San Myshuno Times article, dated the same day:
'THE ALIEN PLANTS HAVE LANDED - INVASIVE SPECIES TAKES OVER NEW SIXAM'
The town of New Sixam is facing an invasion of a Sixamian plant that appears to be growing almost everywhere and reproducing at alarming rates, causing a massive threat to Earth's ecosystem. Locals in New Sixam are also exhibiting strange behaviors as of late, though it is unknown as of yet if the two phenomena are linked.
Questions have been raised over the nature of this invasive species - and whether this outbreak may in fact be intentional. Mayor Ted Roswell spoke to the San Myshuno Times: 'I have no doubt in my mind that it was intentional', says Roswell. 'The Sixamians have been on-edge ever since the New Sixam Massacre. I believe they are trying to destroy Earth's beautiful, delicate ecosystem likely in retaliation for both the 'massacre' and the conflict that occurred during First Contact. They cannot leave the past in the past, as we have done.'
Ollie: If we published something this flimsy and one-sided, people would have complained by now.
Estelle: Precisely.
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Estelle: The trouble is, reporters aren't being let into New Sixam at all, and haven't been since last week. Military are swarming the place even more than usual, and everyone is refusing to comment, even the townspeople.
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Ollie: Between this and Ted saying the explosion at the lab last week was the fault of 'eco-warriors'…
Estelle: He's trying to cover something up, and I believe we may need to resort to going into New Sixam without anyone there knowing it's us. We have to set the story straight for the sake of public interest and their safety.
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Estelle: I believe you'd be a good choice for this. We can't risk posing as a scientist or military, but perhaps as a tourist, it might work. Plenty of tourists go to New Sixam. But, as much as I don't want to rush this, we'd have to act quickly.
Ollie's thoughts: (She wants to go into New Sixam undercover? I guess the people there don't have any faith in the press considering the shit they keep publishing about the place.I guess it makes sense she'd pick me, but it just feels wrong, somehow. The Plumbob's value is in truth, adherence to ethics and transparency. How is anyone who trusts us going to feel if we end up having to cave to deception? We'd have to be honest about that.)
Avery: Are you sure you don’t want me to help with these books? They look heavy.
Nico: It’s okay. I’m just glad Dr. Nobrowski - ahh - I mean, Alexander, allowed me to borrow them.
Rebecca: Dr. McFarnō, good afternoon! I just heard from Dr. Storm. He’s still stuck in a meeting.
Rebecca: He suggested we start with the examination, and he’ll join the call as soon as possible. Most of Thursday’s results should be uploaded to the database by now.
Avery: Let’s see… Most biomarkers came back as expected. He’s a little low on vitamin D, but that could easily be due to the season…
Nico: Uhh… I think… Finn is… crying?
[15 minutes later]
Finn: It wasn't necessary for you to cancel the meeting. You'll have to repeat it anyway.
Avery: Hmm~ technically, that's correct. But you were visibly uncomfortable.
Finn: ... I'm not weak!
Avery: I never said that, did I?
(...)
Avery: Sunny, come on. How many times have I told you? No wandering around the office.
Avery: Okay, okay. We'll go for a walk. Finn, give me a second to grab you some proper outerwear.
Finn: ... I'm coning too?
author's note: A bit of a longer post, but I didn't want to split it up. Sunny is the cutest, and I love when I get the chance to include her in my screenshots. I just wish pets would be easier to pose haha.
[low chatter and the occasional hissing of the espresso machine filling the room]
Grace: So~ what are your plans for your birthday? It's next Friday, isn't it?
Nasja: Probably nothing, considering Darren is still stuck in Strangerville.
Grace: What?! No way! Alex, please tell me you aren't as boring as your sister!
Alexander: Huh? Oh, sorry… What did you just ask?
Grace: Your plans? For your birthday? Next Friday?
Alexander: Nothing in particular. I might take the day off, depending on my schedule.
Grace: How can both of you be so boring? It's the last birthday in your thirties! How about… I throw you a party? Nothing too fancy. Just us and a few others going out for drinks. I could ask Tom and Koji to join. Oh - and (…)
Grace: So~ what do you say? Wouldn't that be fun?
Alexander: If you insist…
(…)
Alexander: Nasja, can you pick Tao up? I promise I'll join you in a minute. I just need to make a quick call.
author's note: I'm on a business trip this week so if responses are slower than usual, you know why. :D Also yay~ birthday party coming soon(ish)!
Xavier: [thinking] Jesus… It wasn’t this bad before. Guess I got my work cut out for me...
SFX: phone vibrating repeatedly
[Xavier grabs his phone and reads his messages]
Messages from "Band chat"-
Today 6:26 PM
Nico: look who i ran into on the way to practice!
Roman: Silas looks thrilled.
Silas: yeah bc my quiet walk to the studio got hijacked
Nico: can you see what I have to put up with xavier? you need to come back asap. i know you wouldn’t do me like this
Roman: Yeah he would.
Messages from unknown number-
Today 2:41 PM
???: hey. it's evan.
i need to talk to you about something.
Xavier: [puts phone in his pocket] I need a break.
ONE HOUR LATER...
Xavier: [thinking] I definitely ate too much... The food still tastes the same here though. Almost like no time has pass-
[Xavier looks across the street at sign that says "SILK ROSE TATTOO."]
Xavier: A tattoo shop? Out here...?
SFX: Door chimes as Xavier enters the tattoo shop.
???: Hey there. Sorry, we're actually just about to close- ...Xavier?
The first page of my new Sims story that will revolve around Strangerville, called New Sixam in this story. As you can see, this story is in a different style to my other Sims stories, and we're moving away from historical and fantasy this time. Fun!
So I don't clog the dash, I'll be putting most of these story posts under the 'Keep reading' cut. Interestingly, this prologue is very similar to the prologue of one of the archived stories this one is a partial reboot of, right down to some of the dialogue being almost the same. I hope you will enjoy this one.
Transcript:
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WILLOW CREEK, HENFORD - 27 YEARS AGO
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News Reporter: Today marks the third anniversary of the New Sixam Massacre, where alien violence led to the deaths of the humans who they had once cordially invited to live with them…
Ollie: Mummy, are aliens dangerous?
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Ellen: No, that man on the telly is lying. Anyway, why are you watching that? Why not watch cartoons?
Ollie: I don't want to.
Ellen: Okay. Well, I'm dishing up tea in a bit anyhow - then it's bedtime for you…are you okay?
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Ollie: Mummy, can I ask you a question?
Ellen: Of course.
Ollie: Why do the men on the news lie? I thought news was about true things.
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Ellen: The thing is, sweetie, the news on the telly and in the paper is supposed to be true. Sometimes people lie by accident - maybe they misunderstood something. But sometimes, they lie on purpose, to hurt other people, or so they get what they want. Do you understand what I mean?
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Ollie: I think so. Like when I lied that I was sick last week so I didn't have to go to school.
Ellen: That was a lie?!
Ollie: I'm sorry, Mummy. I won't lie again, I mean it.
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Ellen: Well, everyone lies a little - but maybe don't lie about that again, okay? School is important.
Ollie: Okay, I won't - but that news man is a bad man!
Ellen: He is, but not everyone is bad like him. Some people really do want to be good and truthful.
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Ellen: Ollie, I know that the world is scary sometimes and bad things happen a lot - but not everyone is a nasty person. There are plenty of good people in the world, and I want you to be a good person too, okay?
Ollie: Okay, Mummy, I'll try and be good. I love you.
Ellen: I love you too, my dear - more than anything.
A tag game which involves going through your old screenshots and posting them. Better explained here.
First off, a quick example, I re-did this 2022 screenshot from Divided:
I redid it in 2025:
Much better lighting, and more passionate.
I owe 99% of my screenshot skill progress to the ReLight and RTGI Re/Gshade shaders, tbh. They changed everything.
I'm ignoring Tumblr blog archives because I've restarted my blog like 4 or 5 times since 2022, so instead, the best way (first off) to show evolution for the most part is the comparison of my 2021 edited Xbox pics from the original version of my story Imago, and the new versions of the Imago screenshots done on PC with poses, CC, GShade and some after-editing, done late 2025:
All under the cut:
Although I don't look back on it and like it all that much, the mods and CC really make Imago at least better than the original, done on XBox, in terms of aesthetics.
Now let's look at some other stuff:
A comparison of a screenshot of Oskar in the same pose, one from November 2022 and one from the past few weeks.
Reynold from 2022 and from 2025.
Owen, 2023 and 2026.
Gideon, 2023 and 2025.
Áine casting fire magic, 2022 and 2025
Morgyn's Dedeathify ritual, 2021 to 2025
Imago - Night-wraiths swarming, 2021 to 2026
Morgyn approaching the portal, 2021 to 2026
Talking to Penumbra the raven familiar, 2021 to 2026
@wolkentage Thank you for the tag < 3 This is a tag game based on a template she found on Pinterest. These are all characters from my Sims story Divided.
You have to go through your Sims OCs and match them up as best as you can with the given categories.
Boyfriend Material - Reynold. Hard to pick one given I'm not attracted to men, but most of the male-attracted readers like him.
Expected to Like you More - Alistair. Honestly, I ran out of ideas for Alistair after Act 3.
We Could be Besties - Katlego. She is a great friend!
Love the Attitudes - Áine. What's not to love?
Would watch all the edits at 3 AM - I assume this is referring to TikTok or something, and I feel like Dan and Eli would like scrolling it for stupid videos if it existed during their time period.
Deserves Better - Róisín. No comment...
My Gorgeous Cutie Pie - Morgyn! Self-explanatory uUu
Comfort Character - Clem. We have a lot in common.
Expected to Like you Less - Owen. He was a side character who wasn't really meant to come up after Act 2, but his forced impartiality due to his job made him interesting to write.
No One can Make me Hate you - Violeta, problematic queen < 3
Underrated - Maddie. Only underrated because she appears in the second half of Act Six only.
No one can Make me Love you - Volpe. He's a cunt.
Girlfriend Material - Áine, but this also goes for Kat and Clem.
This is completely optional, don't do this if you don't want to or don't have time! Sorry these are a lot of tags, again, OPTIONAL, don't feel forced pls!
Cassius has spent the last year working as a tattoo artist in a small, quiet town. It’s a far cry from the city life he once knew, but it’s enough to feel like a fresh start.
Xavier comes back to his hometown after years away, keeping his reasons to himself and his stay as temporary as possible. He’s not looking to reopen old chapters, his plan is to just to get in, get out, and move on.
But a chance visit to a tattoo shop turns into a tattoo appointment. Then another appointment. Then late nights at the shop. Then something that starts to feel harder to define.
As their carefully avoided pasts begin to surface in quiet ways, both of them are forced to confront the versions of themselves they thought they had already left behind.
