The most neglected legacy heir of all time.

As Wren rambles on about her playlist full of metal and punk music Todd would have never stumbled on naturally, he realizes how much he likes talking to someone outside his usual crowd, one Mags wouldn’t have approved of. He tries not to feel guilty about the weight lifted off his chest.

In Wren’s defense, that got a genuine smile out of him. Todd: Sorry Mags freaked out on you. Wren: Hard to take it personally, she does it to everyone. Todd: Yeah… I should go. I need to clear my head. Wren: Need a good playlist? I’ve got some recs for broody walks. Todd: …Actually, yeah.

Desperate to get a smile, Wren pulls this classic maneuver off. Wren: What’s that spot? Todd: Huh? Before he can think better of it, Todd glances down at his chest just in time for Wren to flick him in the nose. Thankfully, Todd is easy to amuse. Todd: Ah, you got me good, dude!

Todd: I’m kinda relieved and kinda sad. Does that make sense? Wren: Sure. She’s not even that good at comforting people she’s familiar with, let alone this near stranger, but her heart tells her she has to at least try. Wren: There, there… Rubbing his arms feels more awkward than supportive.

Todd: It wasn’t all bad. I fell for her for a reason. I thought she’d get over the jealousy stuff eventually, but it just got worse. We’ve been making each other miserable… Our relationship got so biohazardous. Wren: I think you mean toxic. Todd: Man, I really coulda used my lab partner’s help.

Wren: No, I mean, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺. I wasn’t trying to meddle- Todd: No no, I know. I didn’t think I was gonna really do it. The thing with Lulu was bad enough, but lying, always talking down to me - I’m a pretty tough guy but that wears down on you, y’know? Wren: I’m sorry you were treated like that.

She’s aware enough to know it’d be rude to leave without saying something to Todd… but what do you even say? Wren thought Todd deserved to know what happened but she didn’t expect his relationship to completely implode. Wren: Uh… My bad? Todd: Your bad what?

Breathing through gritted teeth, Mags wills herself not to let the tears that have been building behind her eyes spill over. Wren was supposed to be the target she’d take her anger out on, not the one to push her over the edge. Mags: 𝙁𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪. She storms off without another word.

Wren: You’re lucky I didn’t knock your teeth out months ago for how you treated my sister. Lulu’s no saint but at least she’s got a good heart. She’s got people who love her. Even a 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 like me has friends. Who the 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 do you have? It hits Mags like a sack of bricks that she has no retort.

Wren: Ohoho, is that how it’s going to be? Lulu may have chosen to be the bigger person with you, but I won’t. Walk away. Mags: You think I’m scared of you, freak? Wren: Wow, mean 𝘢𝘯𝘥 dumb. I get shoved and slammed around mosh pits for 𝘧𝘶𝘯. You wanna get dumped and punched on the same day?

Mags: Just take your stupid ring and go back to the Hot Topic you slithered out of! She rips the promise ring off and slams it into Wren’s shoulder, letting out her frustration and heartbreak through the rough shove. Looks like it’s time for some outside thoughts.

Mags: Todd 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 thanks to you! Wren: I told him Lulu hasn’t been sick, the rest is on you. Mags: Just because 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 clearly miserable doesn’t mean you had to ruin my life too! Wren: Wow, Lulu really underplayed what a bitch you are. Mags: 𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙚?! Wren: Oh, that was an inside thought.

Having finally stopped giving Baxter belly rubs long enough to realize something’s gone down, Wren tries to think of something to say as Mags storms over to her. Wren: Uh… everything okay? Mags: 𝘖𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵! Wren: Oh. Yeah, I have a hard time reading facial expressions- Mags: 𝙎𝙝𝙪𝙩 𝙪𝙥!

Mags: Oh. So that’s how it’s going to be, huh. After everything I’ve done for you? You didn’t even know how to 𝘵𝘪𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘴 when I met you! Todd: It’s harder than it looks- Mags: You wanna throw away what we have, be my guest. Good luck finding someone who’ll tolerate that thick skull.

Todd: 𝙒𝙚'𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚. Her ears ring, and for a second Mags is sure Wren did some weird girl voodoo on her to make her hallucinate all this. She dug her claws into Todd so tightly, trying so hard to keep anyone from stealing him, she never thought he’d willingly escape. And he did it at 𝙖 𝙙𝙤𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠?!

That was it. The straw that broke the camel’s back. Todd: You know what? Maybe you’re right. I 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 need to think about it. You don’t even 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 me. If you liked me, you wouldn’t always talk to me like I’m an idiot. Let me do you a favor. Mags: Todd, don’t you 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦-

It’s getting harder and harder for Mags to maintain control, but she has to try. Mags: Todd. You’re not breaking up with me. Todd: I-I just need some time to think, okay? Mags: Sweetie, you and I both know that isn’t your strong suit. And that wasn’t a question. You’re 𝘯𝘰𝘵 breaking up with me.

Everything Todd built up in his mind about his relationship has come crashing down. He knew Mags was mean, but this is next level. They’ve had their good moments, great moments even, but now all he can see are the red flags he’s ignored for years. Todd: I think you should leave.

Mags: Will you stop being 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤? This is why I didn’t want to tell you, because I knew you’d act like a baby over this. I fucked up, 𝘐 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵, but you lecturing me isn’t going to fix anything! She’s… right. Todd doesn’t know much, but he knows when something’s broken beyond repair.

Todd: We can’t keep doing this! I can’t walk on eggshells and avoid half the people around me forever because you don’t trust me! Mags: Of course I trust- Todd: Uh, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 if you think I’ll run off with the first girl that looks at me. I’m 𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 of feeling like nothing I do is enough.

Mags: For Watcher’s sake, sorry I’m not a saint! Can you drop it? Todd: No! This isn’t some tiny slip up, you terrorize every girl that looks at me! I got a D on my chem final because you told my lab partner if she talked to me you’d tell everyone she’s pregnant. Mags: Well she 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 pregnant!

Todd: You’ve done some shitty things, Mags, but this is low. He’s 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 called her out before, not to this extent. Mags figured he’d find out eventually, but he usually finds her feisty side charming. Then again, her handling of Lulu was less feisty and more… 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵-𝘺.

Todd: How do you think that makes me feel, knowing you hurt someone because of me? And that you 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥 to me? For 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴! Mags: Babe- Todd: 𝙉𝙤. I’m not done. Not once in their years of dating has he ever gotten this mad, let alone at 𝘩𝘦𝘳, and she’d be lying if she said it didn't throw her off.

The silence is all the answer Todd needs. Todd: Are you 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴?! Mags: It’s not what you think! I didn’t hit her! I just… tackled her. A-And bit her a little... and the headlock was practically a hug- Todd: We’ve gone over this a 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 times, there is 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 going on between me and Lulu!

Mags: So, what, that little weirdo tattled on me? I did what I thought I needed to for 𝘶𝘴. I didn’t even leave a mark- Todd: A 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬? Mags, did you 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘓𝘶𝘭𝘶? Like, 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 fight her? Oh. Looks like the little weirdo did not tattle. Mags did it all on her own just fine.

Todd: Babe, if you guys just had a fight or something, why would you lie about it? We’ve always been honest with each other. And you’re always, like, really, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 honest. Mags: Can we not do this surrounded by a bunch of stinky dogs? Todd: Hey, one of those is 𝘮𝘺 stinky dog!

Mags: Okay, fine! We had a little disagreement, that’s all. A miscommunication. It’s not that big of a deal. Todd: If it’s not a big deal, why lie about it? Mags: Maybe I was trying not to make Lulu look stupid, ever think of that? Todd: No, because you’d never do that. Mags: 𝘙𝘶𝘥𝘦.

Todd: Wren said Lulu hasn’t been sick. Mags: Huh. Well, she was probably wearing PlumPods when Lulu told her and didn't hear- Todd: Mags. I’m legit being serious. Now that I’m thinking about it, if she’s had diarrhea for 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴, I’m pretty sure she’d be hella dead by now.

He tries to shake off Wren’s revelation, but as much as he doesn’t want to believe it, maybe Mags really has been lying to him for weeks. Todd: Hey, so Wren mentioned something kinda weird- Mags: Shocker. Todd: 𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙚. His tone, the forced calmness, surprises Mags enough to shut her up.

As the gears whir in his brain, Todd joins his girl, a bit surprised she didn’t interrupt them. Todd: You left me alone with a girl for five whole minutes. That’s a new record. Mags: Please, as if that loser has a chance with you. Todd: 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘴… Mags: I’m 𝘫𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨! Like, in the way where I mean it.

The whole situation doesn’t sit right with Wren, but she pinky promised Lulu she wouldn’t tell anyone. Doesn’t mean she can’t encourage Todd to look for answers himself. Wren: 𝘖𝘰𝘱𝘴. I’ve said too much… The seed of doubt planted in Todd’s simple little mind, Wren walks off to play with Baxter.

Wren: I, uh, see your girlfriend tagged along. Todd: Yeah, I think she’s lonely. Sorry to hear Lulu’s been sick. Wren: …No she hasn’t. Todd: Oh. Really? Mags said she’s had chronic diarrhea and that’s why she hasn’t been hanging out with us lately. Wren: And you 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 her? Todd: …What?

Todd: Are you sure you don’t want, like, money? Making that ring couldn’t have been easy. Wren: Nah, getting to play with this guy is better. Todd: Dude, you’re the 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵. While she’s never really talked to Todd, Lulu told her he's nice. Seems like that kindness extends to weird emo girls.

Don’t let her dark aesthetic fool you- Wren loves cats, but she’s always been a dog person at heart. She wasn’t a dog owner for long, her time with Pepper being brief but beautiful, so she savors any puppy playtime she can get. Wren: Hi, Baxter! Who’s the best boy? Baxter: *enthusiastic panting*

Look at Wren having a fun day in the park with the doggy :) nothing to see here I'll see you guys in about 2 hours 👋

Some context for tomorrow's Wren update 👀

it feels illegal for these two to interact and yet here they are. it went great! sorry I've been a bit silent, real life hit me like a sack of bricks, but virtual shenanigans resume Wednesday!

A little bit 70s, a little bit 20s, a little bit drowned Victorian ghost! Your sims can let their creative side out in these Florence-Welch-inspired pieces available for free over on my Patreon (link in bio)! #ts4 #thesims4 #ts4cc #s4cc #maxismatch #ts4maxismatch #ts4freecc #thesims4freecc

Gemma: 𝙉𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙡𝙚! 𝘈𝘩𝘩𝘩! You guys are the best! Claudia knows but it’s always nice to hear.

Thunderous applause for the man of the hour - 𝙉𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙡𝙚! This persnickety fella spent his tenure at the shelter avoiding Sims like the plague, but he sensed Gemma’s Main Character Energy from a mile away. It only makes sense for him to benevolently allow her to care for him.

Claudia: I knew you were bummed you wouldn’t have time to volunteer at the animal shelter anymore, so I talked to your parents to get the okay for a fifth housemate. Gemma: You 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵! Ophelia: Go check out the laundry room, muffin.

Claudia: 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥! Gemma: How long have you two been planning that? Ophelia: Clearly not long enough since she missed her cue. Claudia: 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨!

Ophelia: Why, 𝘐 didn’t do anything! She pauses for dramatic effect so long that it looks physically uncomfortable. Ophelia: … 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨! Claudia: Oh, sorry, I’m coming! Good thing Claudia’s not majoring in theatre.

Gemma: 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩. She gestures to the automatic pet feeder and sacks of pet food. Ophelia: Oh. You noticed that, huh? Gemma: Mom, what did you do?

Gemma: We will. Thanks, Mom. Uh, one last thing. Any chance you take constructive criticism when it comes to your decor choices? Ophelia: The cabinets were already painted yellow when we bought the place. Gemma: No, not 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.

Ophelia’s been keeping herself busy- unpacking, cleaning, decorating. Anything to make this transition easier for her babies. It’s time for her and Xander to go, and to pass the torch to Generation Two. Ophelia: We’ll let you settle in. Call us when you have time, okay?

Only Marina Esposito could gift someone 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 and not have it be a thinly veiled insult. There were good intentions, so Xander grins and hesitantly accepts the box. Xander: Wow! Thaaaanks. That’s so… 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭! He tries to pass off the tears from the stench as ones of gratitude.

Marina: I don’t start my babysitting gig until Saturday, but I still wanted to give you all a little something for your garden. Xander: Oh, sweetheart, you didn’t have to- Marina: Dahlia made it herself! Xander: … The 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦? Marina: Yeah, manure is a 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 fertilizer!

Meanwhile, Marina’s in the kitchen with Ophelia and Xander, wanting to show her gratitude. Marina: Thanks for letting us live here, Mr. and Mrs. Lemon. Commuting by horseback from Chestnut Ridge would have sucked! Xander: Don’t mention it. We’re glad those rooms will get some good use.