Chapter 60: My Own Clone

Despite his new responsibilities at home, Chad makes a lot of time for his new son and daughters.

 

Paprika decides to get to know the father of three of her grandchildren. She never made an effort to get to know Dalma. Since Chad's twin brother Lance just died, he is more emotional than usual, prone to slipping up and accidentally revealing opinions. Still, Paprika has to ease him into saying anything about himself, by first inquiring about his work.

Finally, something discovered. Chad hates all the frivolous art in this house. Paprika smiles, proud of her skills.

The triplets grow quickly. From left to right: Kimberly, Nol and Hawk.

Hawk's favorite color is orange. No lie.

Hawk has the Grisby ears of his mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. But his sister Kimberly has escaped this curse.

 Nol's ears are also within standard sim parameters. In every other way, though, she's shaping up to be a clone of Paz.

She loves picture books.

And she loves telling her brother and sister about the picture books.

Paz is obsessed with her children's education. 

Even at this age, Kimberly is rebellious and tries to escape the lesson.

Paprika's lessons are more laid-back.

"And my grandmother was a five-star chef. Still is, technically. 

She won her husband with a Vampire's eye, which was cut into a beautiful sphere 

and sits in this very house."

"My grandfather fought every mummy in Egypt. He was a completionist."

While teaching Kimberly to walk, Zephram glances behind him. Randy's flower painting will turn into a vortex and suck people in if he doesn't keep an eye on it.

Wheeee!

Preoccupied with four kids, Paz and Zephram have little time to argue. They work side by side to keep the house going; two parts in a machine.

Paz always thought she was the one sibling helping out the other. Lately, she must reexamine her perspective.

Oh, Holly helps too. Peek-a-boo!

Saturday night's all-right for fighting one's cousins in the park. Rashaan Lin-Newbie, Amit's brother, insults Paz for having nothing to do with Dax.

According to Rashaan, who took on the crime syndicate after his uncle's death, Dax was a great and clever man who would have just liked to know his only child. To learn from him would have been "an honor"; one that Paz flatly rejected.

Rashaan gets a fist in his face.

Unfortunately for Paz, a criminal knows how to defend himself.

As usual, there are a dozen witnesses to Paz's public humiliation.

The old lady is Bridgette Grisby, one of Paprika's cousins.

Cruz chuckles, reminiscing instead of scolding. "You were always the wild one."

"Dad," Holly questions, "where did this light up book come from?"

"The future!" Zephram says.

"Ugh. Whatever, Dad."

Paprika steps out of the shower to find herself cleaner than usual.

"I see I can take my jewelery with me."

Paprika has no regrets about life and willingly follows the reaper into the ether. However, first she feels obligated to pitch a fit over one issue...

"Do you have any idea how badly I wanted to interview you when I was alive? You JERK."

Cruz dies a few days after Paprika. He never had more children.

Zephram has one of his flip-out moments.

Holly becomes a teenager.

A second later, Zephram ages to adult.

Still sad over his grandma's death, Holly wonders why his mom isn't here.

"It's my fault she's not here," Zephram says. "It's not your fault."

Holly wasn't really expecting a response to his sulking, and feels a little guilty. "Um... sorry... you've been a great dad, Dad."

How to get rid of unwanted gizmos, by Zephram Archer.

3... 2... 1...

How to flip out in a graveyard, by Zephram Archer.

Take a break for delicious roasted lettuces.

Zephram attends one of the vampire Archers' parties.

"There are always a lot of vampires here," Zephram whines, as he stares suspiciously at Kacey Cantina.

"Your powers of observation astound me," Pavel responds. "In any case, they're not allowed to eat you. You can put down Sifton's teddy bear."

"I might be tempted to eat the teddy bear if you don't bring out the plasma fruit soon," Bernice warns.

A view of the Archer place from the air. It's the one with the curly pathways./

Melody has gardening advice.

Always temporarily disturbed from his slumber by the deaths of descendants, Jazz picks the most feng shui place to meditate.

Pirate adventures!

There is a weapon on the table there, but Zephram always forgets to bring it along.

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Etc.: Cruz phoned Zephram directly after Paprika died. Coincidence, or MURDER?!?!?!?!