It seemed like it was a lifetime ago when Pleasantview was a thriving town like any other, then the Disaster struck. The nuclear fall out was widespread and ruined the land for years to come, supplies were looted and soon the entire

town was emptied. Outside help was unable to get through, the angry mobs of radiation crazed people attacked the supply vehicles. Other neighbouring

communities such as Bluewater Village had barricaded off the entrances to the village in an effort to preserve their own people. Rumours of witch hunts had

many afraid to venture out into the streets, each suburb became self-contained; independent of the big cities such as Sim City.

Then one day, a light of hope shone out into the darkness; one man had the

courage to begin a journey that would see Pleasantview restored to its former glory. He was aptly named Castiel Angel; their saviour. He showed the huddled masses that there was still hope and they could be spared, his rise to the Cult

Leader had been the first step. His beloved wife Mimete restored the Military as their new General making the streets a little safer to travel on.

Soon after, the state of unease was further relieved with the announcement

that his oldest daughter Eve was going to carry on her father’s mission with the help of a man named Xavier Fuchs, who brought back the age of reason and

logic as a Mad Scientist, though he was far from mad. He brought order to the Radiation Madness of the people.

But what of the other families who had been living in Pleasantview for

generations before the Disaster? This is their story…

The resources of the self-contained town of Pleasantview had been nearly exhausted, the trees that once filled the landscape had been clear cut and used to heat the houses of the remaining families left behind. Abandoned buildings were torn down and scavenged for

crucial building materials. Martial law was declared and there were no more police to keep the peace. Furthermore, the size allotment for land was reduced drastically. 30x30 was the maximum amount of land allowed per family, smaller lots were allowed but no bigger than

30x30.

And in order to preserve precious materials, no houses could be larger than 8x8 and all must be covered with roofing or awnings.

Most of the remaining families huddled close to the water tower, it had enough stored water that was uncontaminated to keep the households active. There were at least ten house towers in the town, though on clearer days some people could swear they saw two very large and

extravagant buildings near the mountains, they were said to be larger than the maximum allowed size. When Mimi’s Army was called in to investigate they returned with nothing. There were no buildings near

the mountains and they dismissed it as a lingering effect of the Radiation Madness…

The grass was completely dead, the green colour was explained as radioactive glow. As such, every building had lead-lined foundations to

prevent contamination of the domicile and living space above the ground.

The town renamed its streets, it was an attempt to help the survivors move past what the town once was. This is the street formerly known

as Woodland Dr., now named Apocalypse Avenue. One of the few luxuries left was the ability to use colours on the exteriors of living

towers. Four families won the draw to choose their colours; the Larson twins won blue, the Caliente sisters won red, Don Lothario won green,

and the newcomers the Cordova family won yellow.

First Survivors: The Goth family

Cassandra: Daddy, it’s your move.

Mortimer: The sky was alight with flame and soon after the Darkness came…

Cassandra: *sigh* Yes daddy, I know…

Cassandra knew that the Radiation Madness had claimed her father’s mind almost as soon as it hit. She had to put off her wedding to Darren Dreamer in

order to take care of her father and her little brother Alexander.

She was relieved when she was told that Alexander was going to be allowed to remain in his Private School after the Disaster, his class would be the last one to attend it however. Cassandra also remained in her position as a Field Researcher, it was through work that she met Xavier Fuchs. He was the one who brought logic and calm back to the scared people, and she was glad that she was part of it. The Goths were allowed to keep their family fortune, even if it was all but useless now. It was a source of comfort for her, she had faith that the Angel family would be able to restore commerce and trade one day.

And that there would still be money left for her future descendants.

Mortimer: Angry ghosts, evil shadows…darkness is coming?

Cassandra: No daddy, I have the family graves safely stored. They won’t be scaring us tonight or any night from now on okay?

It was a fight for Cassandra to get her family tombstones back before the town demolished their mansion, they kept going on about three spaces in Inventory

and what not. There were six Goth ancestor tombstones in their family cemetery and after some arguing, it was Castiel Angel himself who got them to see the benefit of allowing her to keep all six. They still feared the angry ghosts

retaliating for their disinterment from the ancestral land.

Cassandra: Daddy, are you hungry? Alexander will be home from school soon. I’ll make some hamburgers.

Mortimer: Meat circles…blackened and browned…

Cassandra: I’ll take that as a yes then.

Mortimer: Meat circles…

Alexander: Cassie, why does dad talk like that?

Cassandra: Daddy is sick Alex, it’s the Radiation Madness.

Alexander: Does he know that it’s my birthday tonight?

Cassandra: I’m sorry little brother…daddy’s…

She couldn’t finish, she didn’t want to say that her father was gone because he wasn’t, not really anyway…

After his birthday Alexander had decided that Family was most important to him and one day would love to see the Educational system restored for

teenagers. He knew that he could no longer attend school but it wasn’t that bad. Someone had to take care of Mortimer so Cassandra could go to work. He spent time with his father, he started doing Yoga and was happy that his dad

joined him. He was even pretty good at keeping up with him too, maybe it was sign that he wasn’t completely lost in madness if he could do that.

Alexander: Good job dad, just balance like this…

Mortimer: Balance is as balance does…

Alexander: Sure dad…I guess that’s one way to put it.

Mortimer: “A” bend is a bend?

Alexander: Yeah…yeah it is.

At least Mortimer could respond…in one way or another.

******

Second Survivors: The Dreamer family

Dirk: But you do love her right dad? Why aren’t you going to get married anymore?

Darren: I do love Cassie son, but her family needs her now. Just like you need

me. We understand that, and we can wait.

Dirk: And what about mom’s grave…did they find it?

Darren: They are trying Dirk, they haven’t given up on finding it.

Dirk: Can’t that Castiel guy find it? I heard he got the town council to let Cassandra keep her family’s graves.

Darren: As I said, they are trying and Castiel is helping them. Don’t worry. I

hate that I left it behind, it was a stupid, stupid mistake.

Dirk: Don’t blame yourself, they were rushing to get us out safely. Those mobs were closing in on us…*shivers*

Dirk: If they need some help, I can volunteer. It’s not like there’s any school to go to anymore, I want to do something.

Darren: I love that you want to help son, but it’s not safe out there. Teens can’t

work and if you get hurt on the job, there’s no medical help or workman’s compensation. I don’t want you getting hurt.

Dirk: I am almost as good as them, I mean I have a level 8 body skill.

Darren: No Dirk, eight is not good enough.

Dirk: Alright, I get it. You want to protect me, but I’m not a kid anymore.

Darren: Whether you’re 15 or 50, you’ll still be my baby boy and I won’t let anything happen to you if I can help it.

Dirk: Right dad, I know.

Dirk knew that he meant more than he said, his father still felt guilty about letting his

mother Darleen die, he was barely a toddler but he did remember seeing his father cry and wondered what was wrong, then he figured it out when his mother didn’t come home

again…

Dirk: Isn’t there something I can do? I have eight levels in every skill.

Darren: You could write, I mean once I find space to put the computer. That Xavier guy did restore the electrical grid and made it possible to have the electronics work again.

Dirk: But the internet’s still a mess, how would I publish anything?

Darren: I heard that Eve Angel is preparing to work on that once she’s old enough. Dial up is just so ancient and the drain on it from Sim City’s Gamer crowds really ruins it for the

rest of us.

******

Third Survivors: The Broke family

Unlike the richer families in Pleasantview, Brandi Broke could only provide a two story housing tower for her and her two boys, Dustin and Beau. She also had a third child on the way, a gift from her late husband Skip. Dustin had to quit his job to stay home with Beau, he couldn’t go to school anymore just like the rest of Pleasantview’s teenagers. But she

still had to work, even as pregnant as she was. Her boys needed food and working was the only way anyone was granted food rations. It made her feel guilty that she had to rely so much on Dustin to care for his little brother and the new baby once it was born, it wasn’t

fair to him. He shouldn’t have to grow up so soon.

Dustin: Happy birthday twip.

Brandi: Dustin, be nice.

Beau: I don’t mind mommy, Dusty is just being a jerk.

Dustin: And also your babysitter so be careful what you say.

Brandi: I’m sorry you have to do this Dustin, truly I am. But I need you.

Dustin: It’s fine mom, I hated school anyway. And I don’t have any kind of social life since there’s no where to go anymore…

Beau: Is school really that bad?

Dustin: For me it was, I just didn’t get it. Everything, words, numbers, they all got weird when I tried to read them. I didn’t want to look like an idiot in class

anyway, so I never told anyone. And don’t you tell anyone either got it?

Beau: Alright, I can keep secrets.

Dustin: There’s a word for it…des, dos, dyslexia I think…I dunno. I heard it described somewhere, on TV or something when we still had it, and it made

sense.

As it turned out, Dustin being home all day was a good thing. When he heard his mom scream he came running…it was time.

Dustin: Mom!! What do I do?? Stop making those noises!! Is that normal!??

Brandi: It’s okay baby, it’ll be over soon…just make sure Beau is alright.

Dustin: But mom…

Brandi: Please Dusty…just do as I ask.

Beau: Is mommy alright? Dusty?? I’m scared…

Dustin: Yeah, she says she’s fine, stay over there Beau okay?

Beau: The baby is hurting her? Bad baby!! Stop hurting mommy!!

Brandi: Beau, I’m almost done…

Dustin: Are you sure?

Brandi: Absolutely sure…I’ve done this twice before.

Tessa: Scarred for life now, thanks Mrs. Broke.

Brandi: Go home Tessa dear.

Dustin: Well? Are you alright?

Brandi: Yes, I’m fine Dusty. Come see your new little brother Austin.

Beau: He looks like you…but why are his eyes gray?

Brandi: Your daddy had gray eyes Beau sweetheart. Yes, although you are too young to remember him all that well…

******

Fourth Survivors: The Pleasant family

The town’s founding family, the Pleasants choose their plot of land next to the Goth house tower. Like the Goths, they were allowed to keep their accumulated wealth

despite it being nothing but dead weight. But life with the twins Lilith and Angela had not improved much, in fact it seemed to escalate. Lilith especially preferred to be the

aggressor more than Angela. As for their parents Mary-Sue and Daniel, they continued to keep up their blissful ignorance of their twins feuding. With the Radiation Madness claiming many, Mary-Sue’s parents Herb and Coral Oldie had moved in with them.

With six mouths to feed, things were bound to be tense…

Amy: BOO!! HIISS!! Is that any way for the founding family to act?? Do you even care that the whole world has gone to crap and even the slightest injuries

can kill you??!!

Angela: Get the hell off our property!! Or you’re next!!

Lilith: ARGHH!! LEMME GO!!

Angela: Whine, whine, whine that’s ALL you do!!

Even if they were twins, these two were so set in their ways that neither would budge or relent. Being shoved into cramped quarters with their blissfully

ignorant parents and sick and senile grandparents would only add fuel to their fire.

If the smaller community of Pleasantview ever hoped to return to their former glory then even the smallest things needed to be worked on and preserved,

something as simple as a sisterly relationship could save their lives once they are alone in the world…

It was a long, long road…and for the Pleasant twins, it may as well be an entire continent wide.

******

Fifth Survivors: The Caliente sisters

While Angela and Lilith Pleasant preferred to attack each other, this pair of sisters were happily working together. Having won the prize of

a plot of land on Apocalypse Avenue, the sisters were living it up. They had something that no one else did, style. And with no dead weight like kids or senile elders hanging on their necks, they were

going to enjoy every minute of the Disaster to the fullest.

Nina: What is with the sighing? It’s bumming me out.

Dina: I forgot to pick up Michael’s urn before they demoed the house.

Nina: So? Who cares? He’s better as dust under dust anyway. You’re still young and hot. Mortimer is ripe for the picking, he’s lost his mind so go for the kill

honey.

Dina: And how would I get by his kids?

Nina: What about them? Cassie’s a loser and Alex is just a stupid kid, you’ve got brains and experience.

Dina: Cassandra has connections though, she works with the Angel family.

Nina: So she has connections, she doesn’t know how to use them. You can

make your own connections with the Angels, he does have two sons sis…and they’re probably loaded too.

Dina: I don’t know, I mean that was all we did in our old lives, hunt rich old men and steal their money. They called us the Black Widow Sisters, Nina…

Nina: Our old lives? What happened to you? Do you have the Radiation Madness too? This is a chance to get what we want, everything we want. No one will remember the old world

once this Apocalypse hangs around long enough, why should you?

Dina: Maybe I want something better this time around…a clean slate.

******

Sixth Survivor: Don Lothario

Any clean break from Dina’s past had to include the town’s most nefarious playboy Don Lothario. He was a living reminder of the old life that Dina sought

to break away from and when he bought the plot of land right next door to them, it would make that all the more difficult to do. He won a choice piece

land on Apocalypse Avenue as well.

John: So I’m still trying to figure out how you won this place Don, everyone knew about you…even we knew and we just came back not too long before the

Disaster.

Don: What can I say man? Luck of the draw. I got this whole tower to myself and I’m going to make it into one sweet bachelor pad.

Kuolema: Strange…is this how mortals always act?

Don: Mortals? What’s with you weird chicks and the mortal talk?

Pony: She’s eccentric, that’s all I can say really…

Don: And what about you? Those wings are pretty odd…

Pony: It’s a costume...okay? I told you that before.

Don: For what?

Pony: Just something different…

Don: Whatever. So anyway… John, you know anyone who can get me a sweet sound system?

John: Why would I know anyone?

Don: You said you came here from out of town, you telling me you just forgot

about everyone outside this place?

John: I didn’t think it was that big of a deal, if you want to brave the barricades just head down to Bluewater Village. Malcolm Landgraab runs an electronics

store, maybe you could barter for one of the stereos.

Don: Barter? Money still has to be good somewhere and I got enough left. I’ll find a way to get one.

John: You do that.

Kuolema: Are these meat tubes really made of “hot dogs”?

Don still maintained his position as one of the few remaining Interns at the hospital, despite the fact that no one dared venture out to one. He provided a valuable service to the community, but was unable to

use it to the fullest extent possible. Everyone seems to think that only the Angel family is capable of doing anything good, so he practices

outside the town. As long as they continued to pay him he didn’t care who got the glory. Because if no one was out working then they didn’t

get the food rations, it was that simple.

Don: Man, all I could dream about was those weird winged chicks…I must be losing my touch or something. I am not a “one type of

woman” man…everyone knows that.

******

And for now, that’s all. I only played each family for a day and a half so I have to go back around again as well as get the last four families

placed. I did in fact clean out Pleasantview, deleted all the trees, decorations, bulldozed houses and empty lots and I moved the pre-made houses and community lots to the Bin so I can put them back

eventually. I decided to make the main hood Apocalypse compliant as well as the Downtown hood where I put the Angels. I’m thinking of

playing the Pleasantview survivors like a BaCC rotation so I’ll have to go back and finish their weeks. But I got bored of making the houses and moving everyone in so I needed a break. And this was the break I

took…so think of this as a little prologue to the rotations.

And the two big houses in the first picture are where I put the Archangels and my Seraph simselves, I purposely put them on 5x5

lots and made them a house larger than 8x8 as well. They are a part of the Apocalypse but not bound by its rules, or so I decided.

Hope you liked the little Interlude!!