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[deagh]

What would a story of mine be without an apology at the beginning of it? This is a minor one, though - just the title. I'm not really happy with it, but the one I came up with that I really liked was a spoiler, so we're going with this one. This is a Strangetown story, as I noted, and centers on the Grunts, as you probably guessed. Hopefully you'll find it entertaining.

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Tank sighed as he approached his brother. This wasn't going to be pleasant, but had to be done. He wasn't leaving for college without having this conversation.

"Ripp, I'm leaving for college soon..."

"Yeah, so?"

"I need a favor."

Ripp rolled his eyes. "What, need me to shine your shoes before you go?"

"No...keep an eye on Buck? Keep him out of the General's way?" Tank said.

"What do you care? You're Daddy's perfect little boy." Ripp groused.

"Ripp," Tank said through clenched teeth. "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I'm "Daddy's perfect little boy" so he'll overlook Buck and thus stay off of Buck's back?"

Ripp blinked. "Um...no...can't say that it has."

"*You* don't need my help there, you've got him well in hand. But Buck...."

Ripp nodded, anger gone as a few things fell into place. "Yeah, I'll keep an eye on him, at least until he's a teen. Then he's on his own...I don't want to miss my shot at college."

"I understand. I almost missed my chance myself. I think he can handle himself once he's older....just keep him out of the General's way, ok?"

Tank went and hugged his little brother Buck goodbye, gathered his duffel bag and headed downstairs, saluted The General, and headed off to college. He hoped Buck would be ok. He wasn't at all worried about Ripp - Ripp could handle himself. He just hoped he'd made Ripp understand.

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"Hey, little bro." Ripp said to Buck. The General was off running the obstacle course, keeping in shape. He *was* in good shape for a middle-aged man, Ripp had to admit. Ripp was in ok shape, but Buck was...not. And that was an unending source of friction between Buck and The General. The General made sniping comments about Buck's weight, which just made Buck eat more. Ripp had no idea how to fix that, but he sure wasn't using The General's method - screaming.

"Hi Ripp." Buck said, looking glummer than usual.

"What's wrong?"

"We did painting at school today....I thought it was really fun...so I asked Dad if I could have an easel."

Ripp winced. "What did he say?"

"That I should spend less time painting and more time on the obstacle course, moving my fat butt." Buck said, kicking the floorboard.

Ripp sighed. "Yeah, that sounds like something he'd say. Tell you what, why don't we go work out on the punching bag a little bit, and while we do, we'll see if we can't figure out something, ok?"

"OK!"

"Take that, stupid Orlando Bertino, and that!" Buck shouted as he punched the heavy bag in The General's gym. Ripp wasn't worried about not asking first - The General would be ecstatic to see Buck working out. Ripp had no idea Buck was having problems at school, though. Well, he'd talk about it when he wanted to.

Ripp saw The General walk by on his way to the shower, stop and look in the gym room in amazement, then shake his head and keep walking.

That night, over a dinner of mac and cheese - Tank had been the best cook of the bunch of them - The General said "I saw you working on the bag today, Son, Good job." Buck looked up in surprise and blushed. Ripp prayed he'd just leave it at that, and for once, he did, at least to Buck.

"You could stand some work on the bag too, there, Ripp."

"Oh, I get my exercise running to the gas pumps, and then there is filling in all the holes the stray dogs leave." Ripp said. "But a little time on the weight bench might be good - would help with the chicks." he added - unable to stop himself.

The General grimaced at that, but said nothing more, turning his full attention to his dinner.

A few days later Ripp quietly took some of his gas station paycheck money and bought Buck an easel and paints - just watercolors, of course - and set it up in his room. He knew The General knew about it, but since Buck had been spending more time on the punching bag and had lost some weight recently he let it pass. That seemed to be the attitude around the Grunt household these days. Just pretend you didn't see it, and it didn't happen.

[Saoz]

Welcome to the stories forum. :-) I like your beginning. Can't wait to see what you have in store for the Grunts.

[deagh]

Tank arrived at La Fiesta Tech and checked into his dorm. He'd drawn the smallest dorm on campus, Oasis, but that was fine with him. He declared his major, History - with an emphasis on military and war history - got his class schedule, and sat down and figured out what to do next.

He didn't have his first class for hours. He knew he needed some new clothes, but he hesitated to go out. He knew Johnny and Ophelia had arrived on campus a few days earlier, and were living in a rental house together somewhere. It was all the kids at school had talked about on their last day - "How romantic!" he'd heard more than once. Tank sighed. It was, he had to admit, giving his desk a kick and wincing with the pain. It was always the two of them, all through high school. Ophelia defending Johnny against everyone who teased him, including Tank himself.

Of course, Tank had never said a word about Johnny's alien parentage - he didn't care about that. It was Johnny being with Ophelia that was the problem....nothing to do with Johnny's skin. But no way would they break up over *him*, that was perfectly clear to Tank. So that was one item on his college agenda - find a girlfriend. He hated to give up on his dream...but he knew it would never be. He needed to just get over it, find a girl, marry her, and produce another generation of little Grunt soldiers. If he couldn't make himself happy, might as well make the old man happy, he thought. *Someone* should be happy in this mess of a family he was in.

Since he was a bit unwilling to go out at the moment, he started getting to know his dormmates. They seemed like nice enough folk, overall. He didn't see any girls he might find interesting, though. Ah well, maybe just as well. That could be a mess if it didn't work out. So on to plan B - suck it up and go out. He really did need some new threads, anyway.

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Tank headed out shopping, got himself a phone, then headed over to the clothing store. The imp of the perverse got hold of him as he was trying on clothes, apparently, as the first outfit he chose would certainly make his father flip his lid. He actually laughed when he saw himself in the mirror - *so* not him. But it was fun to push the envelope a little - and the store was deserted anyways. A few outfits later, he found something he could live with. The old man wouldn't be happy to see him in something other than camo, but nothing to complain about in this outfit...and besides, it showed off how hard Tank worked on his body. If he was going to catch a girlfriend he needed some good bait, after all.

Speaking of working hard on his body, the gym was next. He did manage to meet a nice enough girl there - blonde, his favorite hair color - and got her phone number. He wasn't sure if he liked her or not, but hey, had to start somewhere. He headed straight to class from the gym then home to bed - thankfully encountering neither Johnny nor Ophelia in his travels.

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As Tank's first year progressed, he grew out his hair a bit - couldn't be bothered to cut it, or brush it for that matter - made friends, and started doing things The General wouldn't approve of, such as sleeping until after the sun came up, and leaving his bed unmade. He knew these little rebellions were all he'd allow himself, though. No way was he going to fight The General on the big one. So he just kept slogging along. He'd seen Johnny and Ophelia a few times around campus, and had nodded to them if they were far away or said hello if he saw them. Johnny seemed surprised every time that Tank had apparently abandoned their old enmity, but Tank didn't really see the point anymore. He'd lost, after all....not that he'd ever really tried, but why beat a dead horse?

Although on that note, he did have one good prospect. He was sure The General would like her. Her name was Sunny, and she was a cheerleader. Bit perky at times, but pretty and blonde, and she was easy to talk to. He was sure the old man would beat his chest at the thought of Tank with "a hot cheerleader". Although that thought was just icing on the cake, he did like Sunny. She wasn't the one he really wanted, but since he couldn't be with the one he loved, he guessed he'd love the one he was with.

[cindyanne1]

Yay! You've started it!! It's a great story so far and I do love Tank's outfit... he's such a studmuffin, lol!

Tank secretly lusting after Ophelia, though... THAT'S a new one on me!! Have to admit I never thought of it but it does make sense!! Can't wait to see where this story goes!

Hugs
Cindy

[deagh]

to: tank.grunt@
from: ripp@

Subj: Hi

Hey, Tank,

Just catching you up on the happenings here. Buck has lost some weight, believe it or not, and the old man has let up on him a bit about it. He's in "Don't blow it." mode, which is easier to take than the usual "You'll never do it." mode. He's still riding *me* pretty hard, but I just roll with it, yanno? Buck's grades are still good - been helping him with math - and mine have gotten better. Since you're not around I haven't had as many chances to hook up with girls - Dork.

You would not *believe* the stuff that is going on here. You know Nervous? He moved back in with his mother! I think they've made up. And he moved the graveyard in the Specter yard to some empty land next door. I know this because he had to come ask the old man if it was ok, since Mom's grave was one of them. Man, the General went into a funk after Nervous had been here. He just stood and stared at those fish for hours after Nervous left. Why does he do that, do you know?

I think The General is getting tired of his own cooking - he's been watching The Yummy Channel lately. He managed some kind of stirfry last night, with actual vegetables in it and everything. Of course, it wasn't burned, so we all happily wolfed it down. I so should have had you teach me some stuff before you left.

Anyway, that's about all that's going on here - just letting you know we're all still around. Never thought I'd say this, but I miss you, Bro.

Ripp

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To: ripp@
from: tank.grunt@

Re: Hi

Hey, Ripp - good to hear from you! Busy here, term papers and exams and stuff. Also, I keep thinking The General will answer, and I...well, yeah.

Glad he's learning to cook a bit. You should watch TYC too - if you take your turn it makes things easier....and I'm sure finding knowing how to cook useful. Sometimes I get hungry after the cafeteria is closed, and I so I just go on a raid.

The fish were Mom's, Ripp. That's why he watches them when he misses her. I think there's only one left in there that was hers, but that's why he takes such good care of them and replaces the ones that die. You know some of those fish live 40 years? She told me that once...I was about 9, I think.

Woah, dude, Nervous stood up to the Beakers and moved home? I'm in shock!

I'm ok, sortof have a girlfriend, but I dunno. We're both busy. I'll tell you about it if anything comes of it.

Hey, did Pascal Curious ever pop out that alien?

I miss you all too...even The General.

Tank

[alechan]

Love your story!!
I can wait for the rest.

:rah:

[britchenhauer]

deagh93 said:

Hey, did Pascal Curious ever pop out that alien?

*Snicker* Anywaaaaaaay... :lol:


I'm so glad you started this! You're such a great writer and i just love the grunts!


britchenhauer :D

[Melody Curious]

Just shows you what get put up while your sleeping! Another great story! I love Tank's make-over, the hair is perfect!:wub:

[powermolecule]

I just noticed this new story a few minutes ago, and it's great!!

As always, I love the interactions between your characters, in this case Tank and Ripp!

Keep up the good work!

[PRDGirls]

As a huge fan of Tank Grunt, I can't wait to see where this goes. Well done!

[cindyanne1]

deagh93 said:

Hey, did Pascal Curious ever pop out that alien?

:lol: That HAS to be one of my favorite Strangetown-based story lines of all time... Well done!!

Hugs,
Cindy

[suzdez999]

Hey this is great. Got to admit that the Grunts are my favourite family in Strangetown. Not that I get to play there as it *belongs* to my daughter. Having said that she has gone back to the Sims1 now so I might be able to get it back. :lol:

Sue:D

[leahcm]

I love the Grunts! Great start deagh93, I'll be reading. :)

[deagh]

A/N: Just a few notes on what I've done with Strangetown before I go any further.

I went in and fixed all the relationships, such as giving the four Singles the correct last names, and making the two alien Singles siblings to all the Curious children. I also made Jenny Smith younger, as if you look at the age spread on all of Kitty Curious' children, there's no way she could have had both Jenny and Lazlo without some elixir. Now, I suppose she could have done that, but it makes more sense to me for Jenny to be a bit younger. If Kitty was hitting the elixir she wouldn't have been an elder when she died. Thus, Jenny got younger. (She's still plenty old enough to have had Johnny - she's a little older than Buzz, but now she and Pete - Pollination Technician = P.T. = Pete) are a bit more May-December than they were.) I also extended the adult lifespan of the folks who start the game as adults, as I have the age duration hack and when they become elders they will only get 10-15 days, so I'm fixing things to fit in with my hacks, basically. It doesn't matter for the teens and younger, but it does matter for folks like Buzz, Jenny, and the Curious brothers. But I didn't bother for people like Loki and Circe, although I am playing them all in rotation. Basically "who cares if *they* die too soon?"

Just giving y'all a little background so you don't wonder why some of the ages don't quite fit in with what you see in your game. :-)

[pganzer]

Your story is great!!!

I have to say that, after the Curious Brothers, the Grunts are my favorites!!

Can't wait to read more!!!

[Melody Curious]

Quote

I didn't bother for people like Loki and Circe, although I am playing them all in rotation. Basically "who cares if *they* die too soon?"

I had to laugh at that one!:rofl: Try setting Loki's age to a teen, he's smiling now, I got a shock when I saw that!

Great plot so far, look forward to more!

[eclectictsunami]

Eeeeeeee!! I luuuuurve Tank...and all the other Grunts as well.:wub:
I'll be reading!

[b11987]

Yay, another Grunt story :-) Although I think all of you are so mean to General Buzz. He's such a sweet man...I mean sim, wanting nothing more than become a celebrity chef and have lots of pets to pamper ;)

[MsBarrows]

Yay, another story by deagh93! You know I'll be reading this one regularly as well ;)

[cindyanne1]

I had that hack once... but I took it out when I installed Pets and never did put it back. I do say it makes a LOT more sense and I wish Maxis would have set it up that way to begin with. Not alter the total number of days, but alter the number of days within those days that are adult vs. elder. Give them a little more time in the adult body and a little less time in the elder body. Makes perfect sense to me!

Anyway, that's a bit OT... but great story and I can't wait to read more! :-) Keep up the good work!

Hugs
Cindy