🌵”At Burger Bunny in under two minutes? You bet I'm accepting that challenge. Over." 🏍️
--
#TankGrunt #AlmericDavis #Strangetown #TheSims2 #TheSims #Sims #EaGames

(the answer, of course, was yes)

#thesims2 #ts2 #tankgrunt

'I've fucked up. A lot. Don't talk to my brothers, disowned my dad, failed outta college. Didn't even make it into the army reserves. When I moved here, I was running away. Had no idea what the fuck I was doing. And then I met you, Sell. Best thing in my life.

Marry me?'

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

'Wha-Tank, you mean...?'

'I got one to match, too.' He waves his fingers at Marcel, showing off the gold band. 'Could have gotten something weird and fancy, but that isn't me. Isn't *us.*'

Marcel is blinking back tears, stuttering in excitement. Tank gets in there first.

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

'Here. For you.'

'What's this?' Marcel laughs, running his fingers over the velvet box. 'Is it from the Arts Guild? I know my talent badge was supposed to come through...'

'Open it and find out.'

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

'You're up to something,' Marcel teases.

'What makes you think that?' Tank can't hide his grin. It's an effort to stop himself giggling like an idiot.

'You're smiley. You're never smiley.'

'There a law against it, Sell?'

'Ah, you've been on the nectar early...'

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

He's been doing a lot of thinking, lately. Back in Strangetown there was nowhere to go. Belladonna Cove is famous for its hiking trails, its natural parks. Plenty of places to walk, clear his head, figure out what he really wants.

It's time to stop being scared.

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

He never thought it was possible to be this happy. To laugh, ugly and loud and raucous, to hold Marcel's hand without caring what other people think, to not have to hide.

And to think, he thought about not taking the job offer from a stranger in a bar.

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

Belladonna Cove is so different to Strangetown, away from Buzz's harsh regiment and judgement. Even as an adult, Tank had a curfew, approved clothes. He can finish at the uni by five, collect Marcel from the shop, watch a show and grab dinner at midnight if they want to.

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

Tank loves to watch Marcel paint. It's like he sinks into a trance, blocking out the rest of the world and bringing the one on his canvas to life. It's hypnotising, the life blooming from his mind.

Tank is sinking too, but he embraces it. He's so tired of fighting.

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

Insurance pays out enough for a new house and a little left over to begin their dream. They both still have to work a 9-5. Half the time they don't have stock because making art takes ages. But Tank's stopped being scared of who he truly is, and that means everything.

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

His name is Marcel and he has a smile like the sun. He makes silences comfortable. He knows about the stars and the creatures that live among them. They go for hikes at weekends and he whines about leaves in his hair. He could sell wool to a llama.

Tank loves him.

#thesims2 #ts2 #tankgrunt

It's so easy for everything to go up in flames. Watcher, Tank hopes that's not an omen.

But this isn't Strangetown, with his dad insisting every setback is the end of the world. He can ask for help without waiting for the hammer to drop.

It's okay.

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

His father plays pretend in an empty house. Ripp's a *dad* now, for Watcher's sake. Tank's failed at everything; graduating college, getting into the army, getting his dad to stop being an asshole. But happiness? He can't bear to have that fail too.

Tank won't let it.

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

Ophelia teaches at the same school, and for a moment he dreads running into her, recalls every awful thing he ever said. Instead she just smiles, tells him to come see his nieces.

Buzz destroyed his family; bitterly, explosively. But he can't stop Tank making his own.

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

He still watches the skies every night. You know. Just in case.

(Buzz made sure they knew how to evacuate the house at a moment's notice, to log any unusual star sightings, a file of missing person's cases on his computer- )

What were they watching for, all these years?

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

It's sandwiched between dumpsters and grotty shops. The neighbours play music at all hours of the night. He can barely afford the rent. But his landlady tells him they have block parties once a month, and people smile at him.

Anywhere's better than Strangetown.

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

When you hit rock bottom, you need to claw your way out, one bloodied fingernail at a time. Sometimes, peace looks like this.

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

When you're at rock bottom, the only way is up. Tank didn't make it past his first college semester, and he's realised he doesn't want to turn into his dad. So he's taken off to Belladonna Cove for a fresh start, working on an athletics program for inner city kids.

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

He's been pushing himself to go out and meet people; if not to date, to at least make friends. To my genuine surprise, this paid off one night at the local bar. Lonely and unemployed, it made no sense to refuse. He's never been a teacher, but perhaps Tank can learn?

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

If you're wondering about Tank, he's in a depressive slump since failing out of college. Maybe Ripp's graduation sparked a change, but he's starting to work on himself & find out who he really is.

Traits: Athletic, Mean Spirited, Artistic, People Pleaser, SPN Skeptic

#ts2 #thesims2 #tankgrunt

I think the picture speaks for itself.

#ts2 #thesims2 #buzzgrunt #generalbuzzgrunt #tankgrunt #rippgrunt #buzzgrunt