Alex: I know most of those ‘legacy’ things start pretty small. Just a fridge and a bed on a bare lawn, that kind of thing…

Alex: …But I’ve never really been one for thinking small.

Alex: …In fact, my mom always used to tell me and my sister Traci to think big.

Alex: …She was probably referring to our farm…

Alex:… Y’know – big fields, big crops, making sure nothing went to waste…

Alex: …But I’m sure the same idea can be applied to exploring Ancient Egyptian tombs, right?

…

…

Alex: So here goes nothing.

Alex: This is fine. I just need to focus.

…There’s fire coming out of the floor over there.

Alex: Duh, why do you think I’m swimming around it? And shut up, that chit-chat really isn’t helping me focus.

Alex: It’s hot as hell as dangerous as shit, but I’ve got my bikini on and I’m ready to fight. Let’s do it.

You know, I’m fine with you exploring, but please be safe. You’re my new founder, and your family means a lot to me, so I really want to make sure your bloodline can survive and–

Alex: That’s nice, but look at how cool this is!

I mean it, Alex.

Alex: Just look at that jewel. It must have been sitting here for thousands of years. The property of some ancient king or queen. Awesome!

Yeah, and it’s probably booby-trapped. Don’t touch it.

Alex: Don’t touch what?

Please stop looting the ancient tomb.

Alex: You’re being too uptight! I mean just look at this. It glows gold!

Probably because it’s cursed! Put it down!

Alex: But just think of the money it’ll make me!

I swear, I’m going to go back to the farm and take your sister Traci as my legacy founder instead.

Alex: Okay, you do that. I’ll just be here, staring at my gold glowy thing.

Eventually, Alex stops stuffing her bag with jewels and coins and begins to move on.

Alex: This looks promising.

Listen, I appreciate that you want to explore, but please remember our deal. I said I would pay for one trip abroad, and then you would settle down, have kids, and start the legacy.

Alex: Okay, well… I will. Just let me enjoy the time I have, yeah?

Alex pitches her tent in the middle of the tomb, surrounded by the ancient artefacts she finds so exciting. I almost feel bad about the fact that I’ll be taking her away from it all. I really want her to restart my first sims challenge – the legacy her grandmother started years ago – but I should probably be more encouraging of her own dreams.

So… how’s the exploration going?

Alex: Fine.

You sure?

Alex: Hmmmphhhh…. yep.

Keep going!

Alex: Thanks.

Wow, that’s got to be worth a lot of money.

Alex: A whole chest full of gold glowy stuff.

That’s going to be really helpful when you start your family!

Alex: *sigh* Probably.

How many kids do you think you’ll have?

Alex: Less than the number of swings of this pickaxe it’ll take to kill you.

Alex: …I did it. I explored the whole tomb.

You did. What will you do now?

Alex: Easy – I begin my next adventure.

Uhh… I hate to break it to you, but the next adventure might have to be packing your bags. Your trip is ending tonight. You were in the tomb for a full three days.

Alex: You’ve got to be kidding.

No. I’m sorry.

Alex: See you later!

Alex, come back. You’re being ridiculous.

Alex: You’re being ridiculous! I’m staying here!

You don’t have a visa!

Alex: Sorry! Can’t hear you over how cool I look on a bike in my bikini in the middle of the desert!

Despite her desperate attempts to flee, Alex eventually has to return to her hometown of Sunset Valley, to establish a legacy family and move into her new home.

This isn’t it.

This is it.

Alex: …What the hell?

You said that you know most legacies start this way. Legacy founders receive a plot of land with just enough money left over for the essentials. I paid for your trip to Egypt; I’m not giving you any more free money.

Alex: I know, it’s just that I never planned on actually– never mind.

Don’t worry, though – I was able to build you this little farmhouse using the profits from selling all those artifacts you found!

Alex: …super.

(Ignore the fact that she looks a little darker here – she caught a tan!)

Alex: This house is tiny.

I would prefer to call it cozy.

Alex: I know you mean well and all, but I had other plans for that money, and I’d really like it back.

Why, what were you planning? More trips abroad? I’m sorry, but it’s just not going to work. You need to stay in town if you’re going to find a steady job and a husband.

Alex: *brief, anguished roar*

Alex: …You know what? You’re right. I’m sorry for being non-cooperative.

That smile looks incredibly fake.

Alex: Nope! Not at all! Now if you wouldn’t mind, I have to make a private phone call. :):):):):)

Who is she speaking to? I’m going to try and listen in.





Alex: (muffled by window) I know Traci … I know! … I thought that moving out and agreeing to this legacy thing would give me more freedom, but the player is more stingy with money than mom ever was!

Alex: … Yeah, I was planning on spending it on a trip to China … No, she spent it all on the house … Of course I was never going through with founding the legacy … Yeah, I was going to pull out of the whole thing as soon as I finished using her money to go travelling, but she refuses to let me go on more trips, let alone pay for me to go!

Alex: I don’t mind the idea of a family, but she’s crazy if she thinks I’m going to settle down now … No, I’m going to keep the player around for a while, she’ll help me make more money … I’ll drop her as soon as I’ve raised enough for my next vacation …

Alex: Anyway, I’ve got to go, she’s going to get me a job.

Then, lo and behold, I take Alex to the stadium to get a job.





Alex: I feel like a corporate whore.

You’re a professional fan. You’re paid to go to sports events and enjoy them. You’ve hardly sold your soul to “the man”.



Alex: Well, there’s nothing like a bright and early morning start to begin my first day of work.

It’s literally 2pm. You have been asleep for over twelve hours. You’re already late.



Alex: And it’s time to begin my morning with the most important meal of the day, a nutritious breakfast. Oh wait, that’s right, someone didn’t buy me an oven or any counters, so I’ll just have to make do with this piece of bread with jam on it. At least I have a comfy chair! Whoops – no, I don’t. I guess the toilet will do!

Something tells me you’re being passive agressive.



Alex: *chews angrily*



Alex begins to go on nighttime jogs after work.



On her days off, she exercises at the gym.



What’s up with all the fitness stuff lately?

Alex: I’m naturally athletic, something you clearly don’t have experience with.



That’s all well and good, but you’ve been doing a lot.

Alex: Well, I need a higher fitness skill to get a promotion at work.

I see. You seem pretty persistent to get a promotion for someone who didn’t want to be employed in the first place. Are you sure that you don’t want to use that pay rise to fund another trip abroad?



Alex: What? No! I simply realised that in order to provide a good life for my future children, I’ve got to have a good income.

Whatever. Put your arms down, you smell.



What are you doing? You own a fridge, you don’t have to scavenge food.

Alex: Oh, I know, but selling what I find might make me a little extra income.



I don’t know that those two tomatoes will make a whole load of difference.

Alex: Every little helps!



Are you actually so desperate for money that you’ve learned to fish?



Alex: What was that? I couldn’t hear you over the sounds of nature. And cash.



Alex: (breathes in) Oh, Emily. I’ve got some bad news I’m afraid. I’m afraid I’m pulling out of the legacy. I’m not going to be your founder.



Alex: I’ve saved enough money for my next trip abroad, and I’m hoping that whilst I’m there, I can get sell more artefacts to pay for the trip after that, and so on. So, I’m going travelling again, whether you like it or not.

I knew you were planning this. I’m not an idiot.

Alex: Great! No hard feelings, then?



What if I paid for one more trip? Would you still do the legacy?

Alex: No can do. I appreciate the help with making me a house and getting me a job and all, but this is my Lifetime Wish. I want to explore as many tombs as I can. I don’t want to be tied down by some man so that I can pump him out heirs my whole life. I mean, if someone super special were to come along – someone who made me feel as excited as my adventures do – then I might give the whole domestic thing a chance, but I can’t see that happening.



…That’s fair enough. I shouldn’t force you to do anything that goes against your dreams.

Alex: Thank you.

But what about after your LTW is done? What will you do then? If you manage to find that special person on the way, would you really consider a family?



Alex: …Maybe, but they’d have to be seriously hot.

How about this – I’ll help you complete your lifetime wish. If you still don’t want to do the legacy afterwards, that’s fine, and I’ll try to convince your sister to be the new founder, or I’ll try to find a cousin of yours to carry the family on. But if you do change your mind, you will remain as the Aster legacy founder. Deal?



Alex: So, it’s all down to me? And you’ll help me to go exploring as much as possible?

Yes. But only because I want to stick with your family. And I care about you. Ahem.

Alex: Well then, what are we waiting for? There are adventures to be had.

I’m sure there are.