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Is there an aspect of your story, say a plot line or major development, that you couldn't finish or was personally difficult for you? What was it and why? Did you clench your teeth and write through it, or was it too much and you changed it? Pass it on!

♥ I'm sure there are plenty of plot lines I had to reconsider, especially with some of the content in Coconut Pier, but the plot line I'm currently working on is actually giving me the most trouble simply because I love to give my characters HEA and this time I ultimately decided against it. I have to fight myself not to give into my HEA urge and push the characters more to see what happens. Thanks for the question!

#reply #ask

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15 Questions for 15 Mutuals

Thank you for the tag @treason-and-plot!

Are you named after anyone? I was named after my grandmother, who had to change her name during the cold war because Natasha was a touch too Russian for certain individuals

When was the last time you cried? Likely just before my last period lol As I get older I've also been getting fun new PMS symptoms including extreme depression, which freaks me out until I check my period app and go "Not a mental health crisis, just my body trying its best" and wait it out a few days

Do you have kids? Nope! Still a little ways from that

Do you use sarcasm a lot? I try not to use it online, with friends from out west, or with ESL speakers, but my coworkers & family are fluent in dry sarcasm (which I dearly missed living out west & in Japan) so it's the main way we communicate with each other at this point

What sports do you play/have you played? I've tried just about every sport, with soccer being my past and present passion.

What’s the first thing you notice about other people? Their facial expression. As an unfriendly introvert, I'll approach a stranger smiling at me and avoid strangers who aren't. I'm actually pretty unobservant regarding any features or appearance and would make a terrible witness

Scary movies or happy endings? Always happy endings. I never watch scary movies :P

Any special talents? Turning my tongue upside down

Where were you born? Ontario, Canada

What are your hobbies? Writing, gaming, soccer, reading, studying Japanese, making video games

Do you have any pets? My cat and three family pets (cat and two dogs)

How Tall Are You: 5'6"/172 cm

Fave subject in school? Literary arts

Dream job? Winter author and summer hobby farmer

Eye colour? Blue

I think most of my moots have been tagged at this point but even if you're not a mutual please give it a go and feel free to tag me ♥

#text #text post

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I was supposed to take & post these pictures on VDay but... I ended up getting a job offer! I went wardrobe shopping yesterday and got a car today so it's been a busy few days :)

#sims 4 #sims #sims vday #tyrone #harriet #raelyn marshall #alouette lowery #rylee vance #paxton lowery #jayce #spencer #harper #masami #winrey zhang #roman zhang #and their two unnamed little girls :)

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"Hattie, when are you heading back?" Ty asks as they make their way back to the ryokan, after a tiring day of watching Spencer surpass everyone at skiing, snowboarding, and mountain climbing.

Harriet ducks her head. "Well… Jasper said my agent hasn't heard any updates, so I guess I'm not. They're supposed to give me three-days notice, and the week is almost up."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Hat. Why don't you call right now, just in case? Or is it too early?"

"He's a gardener, he'll be up," Jayce says, pulling out his phone. "Let me call him through LINE." He puts the call on speakerphone, and the group huddles around the phone.

"Hi Dad, everything okay over there?"

"Yes, we're having a great time. Spencer might be having too good of a time, but that's nothing new. Oh, are you managing the new cowplant okay?"

"Cowplants are tough—I remember when my Mr. Cowplant died. It was heart-breaking," Ty adds, nodding.

"We're up to Sir Mucca IV," Jasper replied, voice crackling through the phone, "and she's a feisty one. Keeps trying to eat me."

Harper rolls her eyes. "Enough with the family banter. Have you heard back from Harriet's agent?" "Oh, yes! She called and left a voicemail, I should call her back—"

"What did it say?!" Harriet shouts. "Did I get the screentest?"

"Oh, no screentest—" The family groans in unison. "Hold on, let me finish. They cancelled the screentest because they had already decided to select Harriet for the role. Congrats, Hattie!"

"You're going to be a lead role!" Ty smiles, throwing his arms around her.

Harriet returns the hug, laughing, and kisses him before remembering where she is. Spencer raises an eyebrow while Jayce furrows both of his. "Right. So, in other news, Tyrone and I have been dating for a while."

Spencer slaps Ty on the back. "Guess I need to promote you to head chef, then?"

Jasper laughs, and even Jayce manages a small smile.

#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #hatty #harriet #tyrone #harper #jayce #spencer

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The next day, Spencer, Jayce, Ty, and Harper travel to Sapporo for a summer festival and clothes shopping while Harriet and Masami try to reach the summit of Mount Komorebi. 

"Are you going to break up with her?" It's only been ten minutes, but Harriet is already out of breath and wishing she could enjoy the warm, buttery delights of Sapporo with her family.

"No, I still want to be with her, but I want her to be better," Masami grumbles. "What did she say when you talked to her?"

"Uh-uh, Macha. No way. I'll talk to both of you separately, but I'm not going to relay messages between both of you. And if you do break up, I'm not choosing between you two, either. You're my best friend, and she's my sister."

"Don't be like that. I know you agree with me, and you think she's being ridiculous."

Harriet doesn't say anything, huffing with every step.

"See? You were never a good liar." Masami stops and sits down on a rock, waiting for Harriet.

"I guess I'm wondering if you weren't at least a little touched by the fact that she wants to marry you."

"I would be, if I thought that were the case. But I couldn't help but be turned off by the size of the diamond and wondering if she bought it ethically. Sometimes I wonder if we're just too different for this to work in the long run."

Harriet takes a seat, grateful for the rest. "Have you dated anyone other than Harper?"

"I had a few flings, a few dates, but women are really, really good at ghosting." She laughs, without real mirth.

Harriet sighs, wondering if she's going to regret her next words. "Then maybe you need to learn what it's like to be with someone who truly values you. Being with Pierce made me understand what I didn't like about Lance, and what I needed from Tyrone."

"You think I should break up with Harper?"

"I have no idea, Macha. But I will say that if you do make that decision, now is not the right time. Let's get through this rough period together."

"Mm. I think a break would be good for us. She depends on me too much. And she needs to learn to expand her world, too. She still hates meeting people. But I won't talk to her about this until after we come home."

#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #hatty #harriet #masami

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Harriet finds Harper in the last place she looks—her own room.

"You certainly took your time," Harper sniffles.

"Excuse me! I thought you'd be anywhere but here!"

"This is the only place I could truly be alone." Harper breaks down again, snot glistening under her nose, mascara streaked down her face. She always was an ugly crier. 

Harriet places a tentative arm around her sister, the gesture still unfamiliar after these past few years. "You're never truly alone. You never have been. Even in utero."

Harper doesn't say anything, her tears slowly ceding. Harriet rubs her back, unsure what to say to the person who caused her months of emotional agony. Harper is the first to break the silence. "Why is it bad that I asked Tyrone for help?"

"Because when married couples fight, they need to be able to resolve the problem on their own. But you should really be asking Masami that question, Harp."

"I mean, I did! She told me to solve the problem on my own! So I asked Ty, and he helped! How am I supposed to solve a problem I don't know how to solve?"

"Well, Masami's not perfect either. Maybe she should have helped you resolve the conflict. But I understand her point of view. If she's putting in all the work, how are you ever going to last as a couple?"

"I don't know what to do, Harriet! Why are we even fighting? Why is this so hard?"

Harriet sighs. "I don't have all the answers, Harriet. But… maybe you should go to therapy."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"You obviously have problems with conflict resolution—"

"I've never fought with anyone except you two—"

"CAN I FINISH TALKING?" She glares at Harper. "You said it yourself. You don't have all the answers. And if you rely on the three of us to be your solution to everything, how are we ever supposed to rely on you?"

"Oh." Harper's eyes fill with tears. "I'm sorry, Harriet," she sobs, "I'm sorry. I hate being a burden—"

"You're not a burden," Harriet sighs.

"I AM a burden. You're right. I want to be reliable too. I'm just… sometimes it's hard to know who I am when I'm always pretending to be someone else." She curls into Harriet's arms. "I love you, Harriet. I know you hate me, and you're still nice to me sometimes—"

"I don't hate you, Harper. Not right now, anyway. And even when I hate you, I love you always." A surge of affection for her twin blooms as Harper nuzzles into her chest, wet lashes pressed against her neck. "And I'm sorry, for what I said a while ago about wishing you were never born. I didn't mean it."

"I know," Harper whispers. 

"Even if you know, I'm sure it still hurt."

"Yeah. Don't say it again."

"I won't."

#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #hatty #harriet #harper #harper: ? ive only ever fought with you and masami #also harper: has only two friends

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#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #masami #harriet #tyrone #they're all so cool #masami is the natural however

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The calm of the day before turns to turmoil at the top of the mountain. A film crew capturing an amateur snowboarding competition turn their attention to Harper when a foreign newscaster identifies her. Rather than panicking or seeming perturbed, Harper adopts an air of mystery, waving one hand to the camera and skiing over to Masami. 

"We should get out of here. Harper and I can only do the green and blue—red, I guess, here—but you can do black with Masami." 

But Ty isn't listening, his eyes wide at the scene unfolding in front of them. Harper is down on one knee, a ring with the diamond larger than the band stretched out before her. "Masami Shimizu, you are my best friend and the love of my life. Ever since we were kids, I knew we—"

"No." Masami's voice rings clearly through the frigid air. "How dare you, Harper Templeton? How dare you make such a public display, after everything the four of us have been through. How dare you make this about you!"

Ty and Harriet jump into action, quickly blocking the view with their bulky snowsuits, shouting obscenities in every language they can think of.

Masami hasn't finished, however, and she watches Harper with folded arms as she struggles to stand up and slam her foot back into her ski. "You have a lot of work to do before I can consider marriage, Harper. After all the shit with my parents, you think I want to plaster a smile on my face and walk into a situation where we still can't communicate properly? Where you can't solve your own problems? If Tyrone hadn't helped you, what would you have done? Fuck all, that's what."

"Okay, I fucking get it, I'm the worst," Harper mutters, pulling her goggles over her face. She struggles to push herself to the edge of the mountain, Masami cursing her out all the while, but finally manages to plummet down the green slope.

"Wow. I've never seen her so hurt. I'd better go after her," Harriet says as Masami shoots down the black course.

"Let me go after Masami, I—" Ty starts, but Harriet shakes her head. "That's what I meant. Harper swore. In public. This is the exact opposite of a miracle." Harriet snaps her goggles over her face, determined. "Oh. Can you maybe give me a push? Snowboards are hard…"

#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #hatty #harriet #tyrone #harper #masami #harper skiing away in high heel boots as a complete novice cracks me up #in the game masami said yes which is unacceptable

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The conversation replays over and over again in Harriet's mind. She's not really thinking about marriage at this point. She's just thinking about the same thing as any other hot-blooded university-aged girl: sex.

With this motivation, she knocks gently on Ty's door. He unlocks it, his yukata dangerously loose, and pulls the shoji closed behind them as they enter the main room. Masami really wanted a traditional inn, and the sweet smell of the tatami mats, shikibuton mattresses, and cozy kotatsu live up to the experience. Harriet can't help but feel a twinge of guilt, and something closer to hubris, for what she wants to do on these straw mats.

"Are you sleeping with me tonight?" Ty asks, taking off his yukata and revealing blessedly tight briefs. 

"I don't know, are you ready for us to actually sleep together?" Harper shrugs off her own yukata, revealing her carefully selected lingerie.

Ty slaps a hand over his eyes. "Sweet Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Wait, give me a second to compose myself." He lets his hand fall from his face, cheeks undeniable rosy. "Holy fuck, Harriet, you're gorgeous. But no, we can't do anything, not with these paper-thin walls and your parents snoring next-door."

"I can be quiet."

He smirks. "Trust me, you won't with me."

"Okay, Mr. Sex Genius."

"Hey! I have a plethora of reviews on my website to back me up. Reviews I had no say in, by the way."

"Who's to say you didn't write them yourself?"

"Is this the point where I'm supposed to say 'Fine, I'll prove it to you', because I'm not doing that. I wasn't born yesterday, you know."

"Oh, I know. You were born half a century ago."

"I'm not that old yet, missy, and you should respect your elders." He cradles her waist, thumbs tracing her lower ribs. "But maybe we can just make out like a pair of horny teenagers?"

"Not much of a consolation prize, but I'll take it," she murmurs, pressing her mouth against his. Half an hour later, Ty pulls back, whispering a kiss into her shoulder, out like a light from jetlag. She groans, a mixture of blue-beaned frustration and gratefulness at having met someone she feels this way about.

She traces a finger over his sleeping face. "Maybe Harper's right. I could see myself with you for the rest of my life."

#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #hatty #tyrone #harriet #god bless the creator of the briefs #cmon ty after all the effort harriet went to you can at least peel off one of those pasties

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Although Harriet and Ty were initially planning on sharing a room together, something that brought Harriet no small amount of excitement, the addition of Spencer and Jayce also means the addition of another room. Harriet suspects that Jayce knows the truth, but Spencer is utterly oblivious.

"Your father and I weren't born yesterday, you know. I don't mind if you share a room with your boyfriend, Harper. Throw me another piece, Harriet." Spencer gestures to their mouth, and Harriet tosses a new convenience store snack food, landing home. "Whoo! Oh, that one's wasabi and curry flavoured. Hm. I dig it. This is a great way to plan out new menu items!"

Jayce, having just returned from the onsen with Spencer, cranks the TV volume a bit higher, annoyed at the twins for interrupting a rare moment of intimate alone-time between the long-married couple. Serves you right, Harriet thinks. Ty and Masami are out on a souvenir-hunting quest. After they got over the initial period of awkwardness, Ty and Masami have turned into good friends, realizing their commonalities. Both have experienced having crushes on Harriet, dating Harper, and both come from backgrounds of poverty. Harriet is happy that everyone is getting along, but she hates sharing.

"Ty and I aren't dating anymore, Mod. It was all fake anyway, for social media. Masami and I are together." Harper says all of this while staring at the TV.

Spencer doesn't miss a beat. "Oh, well that makes way more sense, since you two are sharing a room and all. Then why is Ty here?"

To her credit, Harper doesn't glance at Harriet. She continues, "We're still good friends, Mod."

But when Jayce finally kicks them out, Harper joins Harriet back to her room. "When are you telling them?"

"Oh, I don't know… I don't think Mod would care, but I'm really worried about Dad. I want him to like Ty, but I don't blame him if he's cautious."

Harper rolls her eyes. "Remind me why we did all of this again? It wasn't for a quickie in the bushes, Harry."

"It's not like we're planning our life together, Harper!" But the idea of that sounds very appealing to Harriet, all of a sudden. "I'm still too young to even be thinking about marriage. I think I can hold off on the introductions."

"What do you mean, too young? Mod and Dad married fresh out of high school."

"Yeah, but they're a little crazy, and they've known each other since they were teenagers."

Harper nods. "Right? So it's not about age, it's about how long you've known each other."

"Huh? Well, yeah, I guess. After all, Tyrone is old enough, but he's never married…"

"No, just fathered a kid, centuplicated." They laugh, and Harper glances back at the doorway. "I'll head back now, but…" She squeezes her hand tightly. "I'm just really glad you're on this trip with me, Harriet."

#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #hatty #harriet #harper #spencer #tyrone #ty knows a LOT about quickies in the bushes

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#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #hatty #masami is so cool #masami #tyrone #harriet #harper #meanwhile spencer has located a random mountain and chartered a helicopter so they can ski down it while jayce has avalanche watch on call

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Harriet didn't have time to protest much more, scrambling to repack the one suitcase she had unpacked and helping her dad find his passport, which ended up being in the fridge. Jasper waves them off, promising to phone Harriet when her agent calls with the date of the screentest, and thanks to a combination of money, connections, and a suspicious looking badge that Spencer flashes at various airline workers, Harriet can barely consider the prospect of the journey ahead before she's fast asleep in her business-class seat.

They land late in the evening, Japan time, and spend the evening in a nearby capsule hotel. In the morning, they take a high-speed train to Mount Komorebi, Spencer impressing Jayce and Harriet with their fluent Japanese, no doubt learned during one of their many acting gigs. Or for fun, it's hard to tell with Spencer.

When the trio finally arrive at the ryokan, Harriet remembers that she never phoned Tyrone after her audition. He comes barreling out of the ryokan, dressed in a yukata and fresh from the bathhouse. "I thought that was you!" He wraps Harriet in a tight hug while her parents are still occupied with checking in. "How did it go? And if I can ask, why are your parents here?"

Harriet smiles, pulling Ty around the corner to bury her face in his chest. "It's so good to see you after such a long flight. It went well—they said that the screentest is next week, though. So my parents are joining me until I have to go back."

"Oh, that's great news, Hattie. Too bad about the timing, but that's great!" He sneaks a kiss before stepping away. "Hi, Spencer. Would you like me to put your luggage away?"

"Don't worry, Ty. You're only paid to be my employee at the restaurant. Unless you're just trying to butter me up?"

Jayce glances warily at Tyrone. Unlike Spencer, he actually pays attention to Harper's online scandals, and watched the video she released. "If you really wanted to butter her up, Tyrone, you can open your yukata all the way."

Harriet groans. Suddenly her romantic get-away has turned into a family vacation.

#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #hatty #harriet #tyrone #spencer #jayce

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The callback is long, involves a dance number, and by the end of it, Harriet feels like the three other girls auditioning would be just as suitable for the role of Judy, the second female lead. The factor that attracted Harriet to the role of Judy was the flexibility in the role. No height, weight, ethnicity, or cultural background requirements. The director wants to hire someone who best fits the personality of the role, and work together with the writers to adapt the character to the actor's background.

At the end of the audition, the casting director advises the remaining women to be available for a screenread the following week. Despite her joy at making it this far, Harriet can't help but vent out her frustrations to Spencer when she gets home.

"I don't see the problem," Spencer says, pulling up flight information on their phone. "Fly there and back before the screenread. That'll give you five solid days to enjoy your trip with your sister."

"Mod," Harriet protests, "it's next to impossible to book a flight last-minute for a reasonable cost. And I'll just be jet-lagged the entire trip!"

Spencer shrugs. "Don't worry about cost. We're filthy rich. And you're young, you'll bounce back. Hattie, who knows if you'll ever get to go to Hokkaido with your sister and best friend again?"

"Like you said, we're rich, I'm sure it'll happen again," Harriet mumbles.

"But will it happen while Harper isn't using social media?" Spencer's eyes twinkle with mischief. "I've found a direct flight to Hokkaido, but we have to leave in an hour."

"We?! Wait, tonight?! I'm exhausted!"

"JAYCE!" Spencer bellows, "Pack your bags! We're going to Hokkaido in an hour!"

"MOD! Why are you coming with me?"

"What, you really think I'd make my little girl travel alone, at night? You might be a rising star, but you'll always be my baby!"

#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #hatty #harriet #spencer #the truth is spencer isn't protective at all and just wants an excuse to go to hokkaido #they have 9999999 simoleons and i have never cheat-coded them money even once

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"So? Is it everything you dreamed of?" 

Ty's voice comes back deep and hoarse, still jet-lagged and sleep-deprived. "What, the ryokan, you mean? I've barely seen the outside of an airplane so far. If you can, get a direct flight to Hokkaido. Trust me, you don't want to deal with the stress of changing airports in Tokyo. Taxis are so expensive here. We're lucky that Masami speaks a bit of Japanese, at least."

"You're in one of the most unique countries in the world, and all you can do is complain!"

"Well of course, because regardless of where I am, you're not here with me."

She smiles despite herself. "That was a bit cheesy, Tyrone."

"Mmm, but you liked it, didn't you?"

She can hear his smile and buries her face in her pillow. "By the way, thank you, Ty. I probably would have just gotten on the plane…"

"What? But this is your dream role!"

"I know, I know, but I think the four of us really need this break. Plus, things between Harper and I have just started improving." She presses the phone to her ear, struggling to hear through the static. "Tyrone? Are you there? Did the line drop?"

"No, no, I'm here. I… I wasn't going to mention this, but Harper's been acting strangely. She kept saying she wished you were with us. And not in her usual spoiled-princess way, but like she really needed you here. I'm concerned about her."

Harriet bites her lip. "Shoot. She told me she was handling the backlash, but maybe she's really been struggling."

"Sorry, the last thing I want to do is worry you. Masami and I will keep a close eye on her. Good luck in your audition, love. You've got this."

#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #harriet #tyrone #hatty

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"You're sure you've got everything?" Tyrone has gone into dad-mode, and the three young women roll their eyes.

"Yes, Dad, we've even weighed the luggage," Masami laughs.

"Don't speak to me that way, young lady. I'll have a talk with your mother back at home."

"Tyrone," Harriet hisses, smacking his arm.

"Oh shit, right, sorry, Masami. I forgot about… yeah."

"About her mommy issues? That's why she and I are together, after all," Harper smiles.

Masami, Harriet, and Tyrone let out simultaneous snorts.

"What? Why are you laughing?" Harper glares at Masami.

"You're so not mommy," Masami snickers. "But thanks for airing my dirty laundry, by the way."

"Oh, we're family here. I mean, literally, since Ty is technically our uncle's dad."

Harriet clucks her tongue. "Mm, nice, Harper. He's also your ex-boyfriend, technically. Hold on, I'm getting a call. Ssh, it's from my agent. Hello?" Harriet murmurs into the phone, the broad smile across her face quickly dropping into a frown.

Harriet hangs up, and Tyrone squeezes her hand. "What's wrong?" 

"I got a callback. But it's in three days."

"Oh."

There's a moment of silence in the car, until Tyrone pulls off to the side. "We're only ten minutes from your place. We still have plenty of time to catch the flight."

Masami catches on, leaning forward to squeeze Harriet's shoulders. "Congrats, Hattie! You're going to ace your audition! Then when you come and join us, you'll be well-rested and worry-free."

Harriet glances around, their excitement finally catching. "I'm sorry, guys! But I really, really want this part."

Ty pulls the car around, still holding Harriet's hand. "Of course, babe. Do you want me to stay back with you?"

Harriet glances in the rear-view mirror, spotting Harper anxiously widening her eyes, thumbnail between her teeth. "No, I'll be fine. Rearranging everything sounds like too much stress." Even with these words, Harper's eyebrows remain knotted together.

#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #hatty #harriet #harper #tyrone #masami #if harriet can see harper in the rear view mirror then ty really needs to adjust it

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Harper arranges the trip to Mount Komorebi quicker than expected—although it might have something to do with being heckled while doing a photoshoot in the city, receiving virtual death threats, and getting banned temporarily from three different social media websites.

"I'm the only one who should be allowed to be angry about this situation! Let me post my own video, I'll put those fuckers in their place!" Even at the height of feud with Harper, Harriet never felt as angry as she does now. 

"Harriet, no," Harper sighs, zipping up her final suitcase. "I've dealt with online hate since I was a child. I can handle it. This will all blow over if we just leave it alone."

"I'm not sure about that. This is your livelihood, Harp. And I'm worried about Ty, too."

"He's fine. They love to blame the woman." Harper rolls her eyes.

"Harper, I—"

"Stop, Harriet! Please, just stop!" Harper's voice cracks, and she pulls Harriet into an unexpected hug. "All I want to think about is spending time with my favourite people in the world, exploring a new country, and eating lots of delicious food. We can worry when we're back."

Harriet chokes back tears. Sometimes, it's hard to believe that she and Harper were inseparable as children, sharing a bed, secrets, and the occasional ice-cream cone. The streaming series that shot Harper's way to fame also transformed her into someone nearly unrecognisable, driving a stake between the twins. But at times like this, rare as they might be, Harriet remembers just how much she loves her sister.

#ts4 #the sims 4 #the sims #sims 4 #sims #hatty #harriet #harper

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I added a Coconut Pier character page for my own viewing pleasure & updated the Hatty character page to reflect some changed relationships

#since vday is coming up maybe ill check up on the coconut pier gang #id like to see ro & win's baby #and i feel like i didn't get enough cute couple moments with rae & lou #to be fair they had other matters to worry about