So I always say to myself "well, this story is so simple that I can just pick like one or two pictures to illustrate it" (for Randy and Regina's story, I thought at first that I'd just stick it as a posting-in-passing in the general Neighborhood One thread even). And then when I go through all the pictures for the relevant lot and time-period I end up with a couple dozen. Or in the case of Randy and Regina, twenty-nine...
(I could never remember Regina's last name, and the game doesn't seem to know it anymore (for a reason that will be evident by the end of the story). I think it may have been Tsvirkunov; but clearly she's not the same person as the Happy Valley resident of the same name. So we'll just call her "Regina".)
As we saw in Unsticking Jennifer, Randy London went to college shortly after Gina Raptor (because Gina wanted him to). He stayed good friends with Gina (mostly by telephone), and he got to know dormie Jennifer pretty well. But he and Regina were each other's favorites.
Girl Talk
Jennifer and Regina discuss Randy while he sleeps. Jennifer is being encouraging, I'm sure; she doesn't seem to have any designs on Randy herself.
Boy-Girl Talk
"Could you two keep it down? I can't hear the game!"
At the Landgrabb
Well-known, if secret, Den of Iniquity.
Eventually Randy got tired of the clean-shaven and flat-topped look, and spent some time at the mirror.
Very suave.
Stubble is Manly.
Regina apparently approved.
Morning already?
Double beds are also Manly. *8)
And Jennifer was all in favor.
Smiling to herself.
Maybe someday there'll be Someone Special for Jennifer, too; in the meantime she seems happy playing matchmaker and fooling around with the passing Romance sims.
Eventually it was time for that final final.
Sharp blazer, manly stubble, and all.
And then, calling the cab for back home.
No time for parties!
Adulthood is Manly.
For narrative purposes, Regina graduated at about the same time, and headed back to the Neighborhood just ahead of Randy.
"The bus was right on time; come on over!"
"And I have to warn you about my clothes..."
Starting life together
This was the first time I had an adult Move In a college student. It worked fine.
"Suddenly I feel so... mature. Let's start earning money!"
Did I mention they're both Fortune? She wants to be a Business Tycoon (pretty easy); he wants to earn 100K (maybe a little harder).
With their college savings (boy, do I envy Sims that little feature!) they bought a house on the north side of town.
Taking possession
One of the pre-built houses. It's actually much smaller on the inside than it looks from the outside; the living / dining area is especially cramped. But they made do.
"Whee!"
The traditional threshold-warming. The gnome is because someone had a "buy a sculpture" Want.
And Randy had one more surprise.
Regina was thrilled.
They agreed to marry once their finances were more secure. And Fortune sims set a high bar.
They soon met the locals.
Randy knew Gina Raptor and Brandi LeTourneau and a few others from his time as a teen townie, and Regina had some relationships from college (including Gina, come to think of it, although I don't think they were ever lovers). But the Welcoming Committee is always nice.
Things were rough at first.
"This is not what I'd planned."
The luck of the computer was against Regina for a few days, and she ended up in the Athletic track for awhile just to make ends meet.
But they had each other.
Randy in a good mood.
Just like my other Fortune couple, Ransom and Marisa Zoom, Randy and Regina get that old affectionate Want cycle going pretty often. They're so cute!
And a little help from their friends.
A visit from ever-helpful Jennifer
Eventually, after many happy but uneventful days (you don't need another dozen pictures of the occasional fire, parties, the couple skilling together, etc, etc), things came together for Our Heros.
Some new clothes, a good job, more money...
Regina's firmly in the Business track now. Randy sort of fell into Natural Science, and I'm too lazy to see if that makes any sense given his 100K LTW.
...good friends
Okay, I couldn't resist this one party picture, with the cow and all.
...more money
...and of course, more money.
Eventually they decided that they were Well Enough Off, and began planning the Big Event...
"I got the food all set up."
"You're not supposed to eat it yet!"
"We now pronounce us man and wife."
Yay! Guests are Brandi LeTourneau (right), Toby somebody from college (left), and the repairman (center), who was there fixing the plumbing and amusingly changed into his tux when the ceremony started. Jennifer really wanted to come, but, um, she had a sprained ankle or something. (Or I just wasn't thinking.)
It was a rockin' party.
The repairman left, but Allegra Gorey walked by and they greeted her. She didn't change clothes, so probably it's the actual ceremony, rather than just the party, that triggers it. Or something. Randy and Regina are working on making sure the party is a Roof Raiser, and Toby seems to approve.
And a Roof Raiser it was indeed.
Then off on the honeymoon!
Such bliss. Life is so simple in there. At least when your deity is as soft-hearted as I am.
One last chore when they returned...
"C'mon, girl!"
My first cowplant (not counting the one at Landgrabb). I don't know if I'll ever have it eat anyone, but it's decorative. The bench off to the side there is normally used to close the gate so that no one wanders in. And we feed it now and then.
...and then the traditional nuptial cuddle.
And so on.
So there we are: Randy and Regina's uneventful but heartwarming story finally posted, for no particular reason. I don't expect we'll hear a huge amount more from them unless they have a kid, or one of them has an affair, or they both make their LTWs and I decide to let them age and eventually pass on, or... *8)