Scooter 8.1 - Aleppo Peppers

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HEY BESTIES. Welcome back to the Scooters! After a long period of me not really know what I'm doing, I've finally sat down and said, I'm gonna finish posting this generation and this legacy. Because we're so close--why give up now?

Let's recap: heir Xavier has just told his parents he's leaving for greener pastures because of the callous way they raised him. He is DEFINITELY free of complexes as a result. Definitely. Also I stopped blurring the splash images because...idk why I ever did that in the first place. Let's get on with it!

 

Spice District - San Myshuno...

Recently freed from the family home, Xavier has found himself in the city of San Myshuno, the entire length of the country away. The farthest, he thinks, he can get away without needing a visa first.

Xavier: "...bimonthly guinea pig race competition"? Man. This place has it all, doesn't it.

All of that, and it seemed some very friendly neighbours as well.

Lady in yellow: Hello, young man! You look lost. Is everything alright?

Xavier: Uh--yeah, sure.

Lady: I knew it, I can always smell a new transplant from a kilometre away. My name's Nora. Why don't you come on up to my apartment? It's an awfully hot day.

Xavier: Lady, I barely know you.

Lady: And how would you if you don't try? Now, come on up!

In spite of himself, Xavier followed this exuberant old lady up to her apartment, which, lo and behold was right across the hall from the one he had just moved into.

Nora Haddad: (humming)

Xavier: ...nice place you've got. I like what you've done with it.

Nora: Well, it might be a little "old lady vibes" for some, but it's nice of you to say so.

Xavier: Do you live by yourself?

Nora: Me, no. I have a granddaughter. She should be at work right about now... Hmm. I believe she's your age, too.

Xavier: (uncomfortable laughter)

Xavier/Nora: (eating in silence)

Xavier: ...mmm. Wait. This is like, really good. What's in it?

Nora: It's my granddaughter's halloumi and harissa grilled cheese recipe. She's kind of a genius when it comes to these sort of things!

Xavier: (scoffs) Did you take me up here just to sell your granddaughter's cooking? What are you, an MLM representative?

Nora, smilingly: Just an old lady who thinks the world of her family, that's all! You understand, of course.

Xavier: I...don't.

Nora: No?

Xavier: (sigh) I shouldn't be telling you this.

Nora: Well, why not?

Xavier: 'Cause I don't know you like that!

Nora: You've eaten my cooking and liked it. We're as good as family now, Xavier. So come on--tell me what's the matter.

Maybe it was the way Nora's deep brown eyes radiated trust. Maybe it was because Xavier didn't know what opening up was like yet. Or maybe it was the unbelievably good sandwich. Either way--he found himself talking.

Xavier: ...I just never had that kind of support. Everything I did, my parents always shot down. And...honestly, vice versa. But I was a kid, and they were the adults, and they didn't set a good example. So when you say something like "you know what that's like"--no, sorry Nora. I don't know. And it makes me sort of jealous. (sigh) I dunno, that's kind of a lot to dump on a stranger isn't it. I didn't wanna talk about it.

Xavier/Nora: ...

Nora, aside: Oh, dear. Oh my dear.

Eventually, Xavier had to head home.

Xavier: I'm sorry for...dropping all that on you, Nora. Thank you again for the food. It was really good.

Nora: It's like I said, dear: you're as good as family now. Anytime you need anything, do not hesitate even once. You know where I am!

Xavier, smilingly: Thanks again.

Hours later...

Lady in blue: Grandma, I'm home.

Nora: Hmm? Oh, there you are, darling. Sorry I didn't cook much, I just really wanted another grilled cheese.

Lady: Oh my god, grandma. You've had multiple grilled cheeses and I've had none. I will starve. I will die right here.

Nora: So starve then, you little gremlin. (chuckles) I met the new neighbour today, by the way.

Lady: Oh, yeah? Is he gonna be a problem like the last ones...?

Nora: Fayrouz! No. He's nice. Just a bit...lonely, I think.

Lady: So are the rats in the walls! You fed him, didn't you?

Nora: Guiltyyyy. But he really is a nice boy. Why don't you go introduce yourself sometime?

Fayrouz: I don't have to. You've already invited him over for another lunch, haven't you?

Nora: ...guiltyyyy.

Fayrouz: Grandma, I swear. You're too nice for your own good.

*＊✿❀　❀✿＊*

GOOOAAL! Wrong sport? No sorry, I meant generational goals.

Xavier Kenichi Scooter
City Native ~ Home Turf, Outgoing, Self-Assured, Lazy

Xavier's goal: Learn all the recipes across San Myshuno

Fayrouz Haddad Al-Dimashqi
Master Chef ~ Essence of Flavour, Loner, Foodie, Art Lover

Fayrouz's goal: Open a restaurant and resell it at x3 its initial value

*＊✿❀　❀✿＊*

On his end, Xavier is loving his new place. It's everything ever wanted: personal, colourful, modern, and most of all...just his.

Xavier: This is fuckin awesome. I can watch all the Twilight I want. (sniff) This is truly the peak of living.

Just outside his apartment: FREE SPORTSBALL!

Xavier: Go sports?

(Fuckin misses like a loser)

Hm. Maybe not go sports.

Well, while in San Myshuno, one must embark on their spice journey. I like to think Xavier didn't grow up with much spice in his life.

Xavier: And it shows haha-AAAAAFGHGHRAHFHFH

Not EA deciding that the welcome wagon shall be the neighbours that DON'T live directly across from Xavier...

Xavier: So can anyone here make a bangin grilled cheese?

Arun Bheeda: Uhh...not really?

Xavier: I see. Get out then. You have nothing for me.

Looks like this townie isn't having the best time on their spice journey either.

Townie: GOD! WHO DOES THIS SHIT! THIS IS TORTURE!!

Xavier: You're telling me, bestie. No, it does not get better.

There's something... vaguely unsanitary about digging through a box of stuff someone's just thrown away, lying on the side of the road.

Xavier: So I'm just supposed to buy a snowglobe, pre-scummed somehow? You sound insane.

So now that it's been ehhhh roughly a week in San Myshuno, it's time for Xavier only to do what's natural...

Xavier: Is that to use the Simda dating mod you had just installed at the time of playing, and smash an NPC?

Exactlyyyyyy.

Thank you, Salim Benali for being a sacrifice to Xavier's virginality.

Salim: I aim to please.

Xavier: That's exactly why I messaged you, bud. "Willing bottom for any cock," duh.

How exactly is Xavier paying for this lovely apartment in downtown San My? Why I'll tell you: he works at a burger joint--aaaannnd that's not exactly enough to afford an apartment with, is it.

Xavier: I stole from my parents, which is extremely on brand.

Now which of these accursed NPCs left FRUITCAKE in my heir's home. Disgusting.

Xavier: I actually like it.

...HOW COULD YOU BETRAY ME LIKE THIS XAVIER. I LIKED YOU.

Another time, Xavier headed over to Nora's, as per her invitation.

Xavier: Hey, Nora?

Nora: (silence)

Xavier: ...uhhh...Nora...?

Nora: Oh, Xavier. Hi, sorry--(sniffs) I'm just--you caught me at the wrong time.

Fayrouz: She's watching "All Cutscenes From Yakuza 0".

Nora: (sniffing) Majimaaaaaaa!

Xavier: (chuckles) You're...the granddaughter, I take it.

Fayrouz: Yup. Fayrouz Al-Dimashqi, nice to meet you. Are you Xavier?

Xavier: Yeah, sure am.

Fayrouz: You know...I was gonna make something but I needed to step out to the market first. Xavier, do you wanna come with me?

Xavier: Suppose I don't get to eat if I don't.

Fayrouz: Precisely. Come on!

Nora, aside: Make sure to get the za'atar mix while you're there, darling.

*＊✿❀　❀✿＊*

Who is Fayrouz al-Dimashqi? Coming from the Chane Legacy like Matangi (gen. 2), Toro (gen. 4), and Hari (gen. 6) before her, Fayrouz rounds out the quad of the Chane legacy Sims I really loved and wanted to revive. Her story was that she was a jinni, captured centuries ago and ending up in the hands of a deeply flawed person who wanted to keep the jinni for themselves and pushed everyone away in doing so. She was able to help her master unlearn their selfishness through the ~power of love~ (in a familial way). It was a good story, actually imo.

*＊✿❀　❀✿＊*

And so, just outside their building, Xavier and Fayrouz headed for a pop-up market.

Xavier, aside: Man, the spice district really has it all, doesn't it?

Fayrouz, aside: Sure does. They call this place the land of dreams for a reason.

Xavier: Dreams? I don't know. Rats, maybe.

Fayrouz: Oh, rats, definitely.

Xavier: So...what's so important that you absolutely had to step out for it?

Fayrouz: Aleppo pepper! My favourite seasoning--but my family's from Aleppo, so that might just be bias talking.

Xavier: Another kind wouldn't work, I take it.

Fayrouz: Exactly, but I also think that substitution is hard. You can't just...it's hard to do.

Xavier: How so?

Fayrouz: Well, for a more familiar example... you wouldn't use brown sugar if you didn't want the taste of brown sugar, right?

Xavier: I don't know. I don't cook.

Fayrouz: (chuckles) I know. Just humour me. Say yes.

Xavier: Okay! Yes. (chuckles)

Fayrouz: Just, trust me on this. It's irreplaceable. Lots of things in life are.

Xavier: Y'know, Fayrouz...if you're so passionate about cooking, why don't you open a restaurant?

Fayrouz: I want to! I want to... it's just hard to get the financing to do it. (sigh) Can't exactly launch the best Syrian restaurant in the city with no money behind you.

Xavier: Ahhh, okay. Well, I'd eat there.

Fayrouz: All you've had is my grilled cheese! Okay, come on. It's time for me win you over. It's lunch time.

Xavier couldn't stay for lunch as planned (he had work), but would it really be Nora Haddad if she didn't send him home with a plate for later?

Xavier: Fuck, does this ever smell good. Goddamn.

...

(phew) Ho-ly shit. This is unbelievable. Nora's right, that Fayrouz goes crazyyyyy.

And it was just something he couldn't keep to himself.

Xavier: ...Hayabusa! Hey! I know you're up. Listen, bro--can you download as much information about Syrian food as you can, and send it to me?

Hayabusa, on the phone: Of course, Xavier. And...done. Will there be anything else?

Xavier: Oh! Uh...nothing, I guess. Talk to you later?

Hayabusa: Of course, Xavier. Goodnight.

*＊✿❀　❀✿＊*

I'm really excited to get back into the Scooters, and I couldn't have done it on a better generation. I'm very invested in this one. I hope you will be too. See you next time!