I've been trying to catch up with all the comments since my break but... gods, there are just too many :) Just rest assured I treasure each and every comment I get, even if it's just a simple 'I liked this update!'. I know I keep saying this, but you guys are amazing and you frequently make my day :)
I've been trying to filter out the comments with questions in them and to answer them, but if yours has been accidentally overlooked, please do ask again and I'll try and answer as best as I can. I'll try and get back on updating/sorting out/reading buildacity as quick as I can, but my real life friends have smelled my new-found freedom and are dragging me out to see the world again :D It's really great to finally have a social life again, and there's so much I want to do with my time... not enough hours in a day!

Anyways, moving on to the BaCC update ^^ Davin Greengrass, social pariah of Riverside Hollow, has had a very busy week indeed. It all started out when the new kids on the block, the Buttons, dropped by his home to say hi and introduce themselves...



Davin and Liam immediately got along very well. I think it's because they share a lot of interests, both being fortune Sims. Kate wandered off after a little bit, bored, to let the men chat on about economics or whatever it was.



Davin mulled over some things Liam had mentioned over his solitary dinner of spaghetti bolognaise. He'd talked about how important networking was for his career as a journalist, and that knowing the right people opened many doors which could remain closed for others. He also mentioned the importance of a good reputation, and had launched into a story of how this one guy once lost a million simoleon contract just because the woman he was conducting business with had found out that he'd made derogatory remarks about her husband.

Food for thought, indeed.



He might have been right about every single thing he ever said to those hard-headed idiots in town, but Liam had also been right when he stressed the importance of getting along with people. Or at least, letting people think you get along with them. It was going to take a lot of work for him to resist flying off the handle whenever one of those fools opened their mouths.
When Davin found a copy of the book 'Anger Management: How Not to Be a Raging Asshole' in the collection of books the Lovelace sisters had left in the house, he took that as some sort of cue to try and get his life back on the tracks again.



All Davin dreams of at night are his children. I keep trying to hate him, but he's got his redeeming qualities and springs them on me whenever I think I've got my mind made up about him :)



Many hours of study and practising in front of the mirror, and Davin thinks he's got this Anger Management business all sorted out. Time to put the theory into practice! He's decided to check out the new pub in town, and maybe try to make some new friends. Start out with Sims that don't know him and his reputation yet.



First victim testing bunny possible new acquaintance is the lovely Riana Quisenberry, Law Enforcer Extraordinaire. She's just bought an entrance ticket to the Four Corners and seems pretty smug about it.



Davin to self: "Right, friendly smile, introduce yourself, pleasant tone of voice..."



The afternoon goes surprisingly well, without any fights (Nate remains glued to the pokertable). Davin and Riana entertain themselves with a couple of games of darts and generally get along.

Davin: "Hah! Bullseye!"



When asked what she thinks of Davin though, Riana's reaction is lukewarm at best. Well, you've only known her for a couple of hours, Dav, and it's not like you're the paragon of popularity just yet. Don't push your luck.



The rest of the day is spent practising his new-found social skills. Playing poker without calling the other players a bunch of cheating bastards is quite the accomplishment.



All in all, a lot of progress made for one day. Well done indeed, Dav!



The kids come over for a visit the next day. Little Hannah is always really pleased to see her dad, and she was the only one of the kids whose relationship with Davin didn't take a hit after he was caught cheating.



Stephen: "Dad, I've heard you've been going soft lately. Getting along with the plebs? Refraining from pointing out the glaring mistakes in their life? I'm disappointed!"
Cordelia: "Don't listen to Stephen, dad. We're all very proud of you. Maybe someday you could try to... get along again with mom, you know?"
Stephen: "Pfah!"



I missed Davin's elder birthday, and he grew up all creaky in his cramped little bathroom. Not exactly the most glamorous birthday ever, but Davin doesn't seem to mind. All those new friends and acquaintances have made it possible for him to finally land that promotion he's been angling after for quite a while now!



Encouraged by his eldest daughter Cordelia, Davin's invited over Myra to try and at least get back on speaking terms with her. She's (understandably) still pretty annoyed at him, but it's not like she's ever heard him apologise to anyone before. That's got to count for something, right?



It takes the entire day of talking through things before Myra wants to consider trying to be friendly again. But Davin is nothing if not persistent, and it the end it seems to be paying off.



He even got a friendly hug out of it!



Next up on the to-be-charmed list is Felix, who is rather, uhm, sceptical at first.

Felix: "Want to make amends? Yeah right, Davin. What are you up this time? Trying to talk me into kicking out all the non-Sims or something? Forgotten that my wife and me are both..."
Davin: "Nonono! I swear, nothing like that!"



Apparently Felix buys his monologue about how age has mellowed him out and made him see the errors of his ways. Heh. Gullible.



Felix: "Uhm, well if you want to prove that you've really changed Davin, here's your chance..."
Davin:"... crap."



With Felix looking on, Davin has little options but to pull out all the stops and offer Nate the most heartfelt apology he can manage.



Nate seems to be more bemused than anything else.

Nate: "You drrroop him onna head or som'thing, Feeelix?"



Somehow, Davin's chat with Felix turned into a bit of an impromptu lawn-party, as people kept dropping by and Davin felt obliged to meet and greet them all to convince Felix of his goodwill.



I'm glad you're happy to be talking with Myra again Dav, but there's such a thing as personal space D:

Davin: *nuzzles*
Myra: *creeped the hell out*



The Riverside Burglar was a hot topic amongst the Sims gathered. Especially Cordelia seemed to be fascinated about her, talking about it with everyone she came across.

Cordelia: "...just be really cool to know where she comes from, y'know? It's noone from the village apparently, so does she just hang out in the woods or something? I really wish Arthur and Riana would just catch her already so we can all find out!"



Arthur: "LALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU DISCUSSING MY INCOMPETENCE!"