Art Aficionados

Artistic friends investigate a colorful mystery.

This is one of 17 Relationship Stories in The Sims Mobile, and one of 8 Stories that can be started after beginning a friendship.

Starting Dialogue
Friend: Hey, nice to finally meet you. I've heard around town that you're a fan of art!

You: Yeah, I study art history in my spare time! Are you an art buff as well?

Friend: I am! It's made a huge impression on my life... and it's taking all my self-discipline not to make a pun about the impressionist movement.

Ending Dialogue
You: It's refreshing to hang out with you. Most people fall asleep when I start going on about various brushwork techniques.

Friend: Ditto! Speaking of brushwork techniques, remind me to show you this painting I found. There's something strange about it.

Starting Dialogue
Friend: Here's the painting. What do you think? I found it at a yard sale two towns over.

You: Wow! It's a beautiful portrait with an impressionist color palette. Do you know who the subject is? She's very pretty.

Friend: I have no idea, but she looks eerily familiar to me. That's why I bought it. Extraordinary technique, too.

Ending Dialogue
You: What are these weird symbols on the side of the painting? I never noticed them before.

Friend: Wow, you're right! They're obscured by paint. I wonder if there's a way we can remove it.

You: I can make out two letters at the end: O.P. I don't want to risk ruining the painting. I think we should do more research.

Starting Dialogue
Friend: Maybe we can take the painting to the hospital and x-ray it.

You: Great idea! Then we can see what's written under all that paint without messing it up.

Friend: I bet this is what real art detectives do... if art detectives are a thing.

Ending Dialogue
You: I wonder who curates the art here? They have good taste that's a bit on the abstract side.

Friend: I don't think hospitals have art curators. It's probably the receptionist ordering inoffensive pieces online.

You: That's offensive in itself!

Starting Dialogue
Friend: The x-ray results are back!

You: The covered up note reads "To my love: we'll be together always. -- O.P."

Friend: A love note? This painting gets even more and more mysterious.

Ending Dialogue
You: I keep thinking about the mysterious painting. Why would a love note be covered in paint?

Friend: Maybe they broke up? Or maybe someone was trying to hide it?

You: I think we should do some more investigation to find out who this "O.P." is.

Starting Dialogue
You: I tried researching artists with the initials "O.P.", but I keep getting optical illusion artists.

Friend: I know! We'll send a message to the museum with a hi-res photo of the painting. Maybe they have an appraiser who can identify it.

You: Great idea! While we wait, maybe we can watch that documentary about 21st century artist J. Howard Miller. It's riveting!

Ending Dialogue
You: We got a message back from the museum! The painting is an Ollie Purdue original! WOW!

Friend: The famous contemporary artist Ollie Purdue?! What was his art doing at a yard sale?

You: I'm not sure. The appraiser is doing some more digging. Meanwhile, let's talk about that new exhibit you saw.

Ending Dialogue
You: One of the reasons I enjoy art so much is that it's so diverse and expansive. Anything can be art!

Friend: Spoken like a true Marcel Duchamp!

Starting Dialogue
Friend: The museum called! They think the painting is more valuable than they initially thought! I wonder if it's famous!

You: Wow! Maybe we'll be interviewed by some sort of art publication for finding it.

Friend: But if it's so valuable and famous, how did it end up in a yard sale? IT can't be THAT famous, can it?

Ending Dialogue
You: I hope the museum can tell us more about the love note written on the painting. Why was it covered up?

Friend: It is mysterious for sure. I'm impressed we even have gotten this far!

You: We're definitely making art detectives a thing.

Starting Dialogue
Friend: There's a new message from the museum! Oh no, that's why it looked familiar to me! This is the stolen portrait of Babs L'Amour!

You: The artist's wife? That heist was all over the news!

Friend: Awww, no! We find a famous painting and I have to return it. Let's just hang out a little longer to postpone the inevitable.

Ending Dialogue
You: We helped solve an art scandal! Just like that movie where they solve that art history mystery... Cat Detective: The Movie!

Friend: I guess it was fun even though I have to give the painting back to the museum. I love art enough to let it go!

You: I know what would cheer you up: let's talk about what art you want to get in its place!

Starting Dialogue
Friend: At least the museum guard was thrilled to be reunited with the painting.

You: I'm sorry you had to part with it, but you did the right thing!

Friend: I just wish I had something to put up in its place. That painting really tied the room together.

Ending Dialogue
You: I made you a replica of the Ollie Purdue painting! Instead of the love note, I wrote "Friends always: Art Sleuths together."

Friend: Wow! I don't know what to say. Maybe you'd like to come with me to another yard sale sometime?

You: I'd love to! And, hey, at least this whole experience proves you have excellent taste.

Rewards
[todo]