Sure enough, I found him in the attic apartment curled in a ball with the Grim Reaper standing over him. The ghost of his grandfather, Devin, was also floating around, so I surmised that Patrick’s needs had gotten relatively low (though none were in red — I had just checked him not long before) and he had wandered downstairs to get food or use the toilet or something when Devin scared him to death. I don’t remember if I had stopped him from the using the telescope or if he stopped of his own accord — I must have stopped him since they rarely stop building skills on their own (usually I have to force them away from things like the piano before they keel over from exhaustion). At any rate, I was totally shocked. I queued Stefaan to plead for Patrick’s life, since they had a good relationship and Stefaan was almost up the stairs, but he didn’t make it in time. Alas!

“That’ll teach her to keep my non-platinum gravestone around!”

It’s the first time I’ve had a Shanley die of something other than old age, so it was a little sad. I wasn’t particularly attached to Patrick, but he was my 5th gen heir, and I hadn’t even gotten his portrait painted yet! I also felt bad for the rest of the family. His wife and kids didn’t handle it very well.

“Nooooooooooo!”

I think it’s worse when they die of something other than old age, because I don’t remember having my Sims mourn and cry for so long when my elders passed away. The kids were constantly dropping the interactions in the queue in order to cry about their dad. It didn’t seem to bother Fiona and Robi as much.

*sniff*

“Maybe Dad’s finally with the aliens.”

The next night it was time for a couple of birthdays. First Stefaan become an adult, saying goodbye to acne forever. For some reason he grew into these drab brown workclothes that they’ve had in their wardrobe for generations. I never saw anyone wearing them before, and they’re not buyable, so I have no idea where they came from!

“Make me proud, kiddo.”

The same night, Tristan became a teenager. And guess what I rolled for him? Romance! D’OH! I didn’t roll Romance for 16 kids straight, then suddenly rolled it two times in a row. What’s up with that? And Tristan is so shy! He’ll make a terrible Romance Sim! Oh well. It should be interesting. I gave him a hairstyle I hadn’t used yet just for variety and posed him for his family tree portrait. I think he looks quite a bit like his dad (and all of the other Patrick clones), but he definitely has his mother’s eyes.

“Maybe I can paint my way into women’s hearts…”

And here’s Vesta, my 6th gen heir, in her family tree portrait. I think she’ll make a fine heir.

“Someday all of this will be mine…”

Well, that’s it! I shed a little tear for Patrick’s passing, but I’ve moved on and am ready for 7th gen! That is, after I age Vesta (I might use the elixir to get her through those teenage years a little more quickly). I’m hoping she’ll be a Knowledge Sim (easy) or something like Fortune (super easy now that the Shanleys are loaded, although I don’t enjoy the endless purchases of shrubbery…). I’m off to play now for a little bit before bed. G’night, all!