Hello! Welcome back to Auspicious It Ain’t, my Nickel & Dimed challenge. The challenge runs until Beaudelaire becomes an Adult. It’s pass/fail, and I am currently passing.

Because Beaudelaire was a Baby when the challenge started, Ygraine aged up before it ended. Her children had Plans.

GENEVIVE: Mom, after dinner Beaudelaire and I want you to put on your nicest dress.YGRAINE: Why?BEAUDELAIRE: It’s a surprise. Genevive and I saved all our money for ages.YGRAINE: Why are you bouncing like that? Do you have to go to the bathroom?BEAUDELAIRE: Mo-oooom!

YGRAINE: Okay, I’m all dressed up. Now what?(Doorbell rings)GENEVIVE: Right on time! I’ll get it.YGRAINE: Beau, dear, you’re still bouncing. Are you sure you don’t need to go? Why don’t you just try and see what comes out?BEAUDELAIRE: MO-OOOOM!

YGRAINE (V.O.): A matchmaker?! You hired a matchmaker?! Oh nonononono. Nonono. I can’t.BEAUDELAIRE (V.O.): Sure you can! (persuasively) Look, my father died a long time ago, and you were divorced before that, and anyway the invisible telepathic rabbit ninjas weren’t your fault.YGRAINE (V.O.): But – BEAUDELAIRE (V.O.): No buts! Get out there and have a nice date!

YGRAINE: Sorry, I’m kinda nervous. I’ve never done this before.MATCHMAKER: That’s all right. I have. Now, just a quick shine of the ol’ crystal ball…

Ygraine’s date turned out to be a recent immigrant from the Far East named Nicholas Barthelet, a year or two younger than Ygraine.

They hit it off immediately.

The rotation progressed nicely, if uneventfully. Genevive found another paralegal job, which cheered her up no end.

Nicholas became a fixture around the house.

And despite what you might think, Beaudelaire and Genevive were just fine with that.

NICHOLAS: Your fiancée likes Far East?BEAUDELAIRE: That’s what I’ve heard, anyway.NICHOLAS: Then I will teach you important phrase for when you meet her: “Onegai shimasu.”BEAUDELAIRE: (repeats) “Onegai shimasu.” What does it mean?NICHOLAS: There is no phrase in Simlish, I think. It is wish for good thing in new relationship, wish or hope or willingness for thing to go well.*

*This is accurate, at least according to Google. Depending on context, the phrase is translated as “Please take care of me,” “Nice to meet you,” or “Please teach me.” Say “oh-Nah-GAH she-MOSS.”

On his Adult birthday, Beaudelaire bought a lottery ticket. If you want to be technical, he wasn’t quite old enough, since he bought it in the morning, and he was born in the evening, but nobody’s ever looked at an ID that closely, and anyway, the drawing was at noon.

That same afternoon, Nicholas had an important question for Ygraine.

NICHOLAS: Ygraine, I care very much for you and your family. Will you let me be part of your family too?YGRAINE: Oh, Nicholas, of course, yes! Oh, I feel like – like – BEAUDELAIRE: I WON THE LOTTERY!

YGRAINE: Well, yes, that is how I feel, but – BEAUDELAIRE: I WON THE LOTTERY! I WON! I WON! (delighted, disbelieving laughter) Mom, Nicholas, you’re going to have the fanciest wedding EVER! And I’m gonna buy you a real house! And one for me! And one for Genevive! Oooh, right, Genevive. HEY GENEVIVE, YOU’RE GOING TO LAW SCHOOL!

And with Beaudelaire’s aging up later that evening, the challenge is officially over, and I won. But of course there are some Plot threads still dangling. I will post an epilogue soon(ish) with information about where you can continue to follow Beaudelaire, Genevive, Ygraine, and Nicholas. For a more detailed resolutions to Beaudelaire’s betrothal, look for a very special two part episode of Ruth’s (un)Officially Wacky Boolprop Challenge, entitled “The Middle Child, or, Rock Paper Scissors” – coming soon to an LJ near you! [/shameless self-promotion]

Until next time, Happy Simming!