The Picaso Brothers: First Week Back

To (re-)read the brothers' last year at uni, click here.

Pablo is one of the four children Jessica Picaso has with her second husband, Gary Greenman (one of Rose Greenman's plantchildren). Jessica's first husband, Matthew Picaso, left her for Alexandra O'Mackey, his three-bolt-love. Matthew died many years ago.
Jessica is happy with Gary, although she will probably never quite get over losing her two firstborns, twins Pierre and Placido (their father was Matthew), in a fire at their dorm at uni.

Anyway, here is Pablo, freshly graduated Cum Laude in Physics and ready to tackle his lifetime want: He seems himself as the future head of SCIA.

With his modest funds, he bought this modest Maxis-made house. But why pay all the bills alone when one has a twin brother?

And so on this Monday, the first day of his return from uni and back in New Maximiliania, he invites his brother Prezioso to come and share the house with him.
Prezioso's final exam results were a tad better than those of his brother: he graduated Summa Cum Laude in Biology. I don't know how that will help him towards his LTW of becoming Prestidigitator, but we'll see.

They both look for jobs in their coveted careers but are not succesful. (Note the synthesizer - I decided to put it in Pablo's backpack since he had it in his dorm room all those "years", and I still can not recall how it got there in the first place.)

The welcome committee consists of Goneril Capp, Chaz Whippler and Cherry Capp.

The first meal at their new house is, surprisingly, a success - both brothers have only 1 cooking skill point each.

In the evening, Tina Traveller rings and invites the brothers on a group outing.

The taxi drops the group off at Games of Glory.

Sharla Ottomas, Gabrielle Newson and Tessa Ramirez are part of the group.

Tina's mother Trisha and Sharla's husband Mercutio came along, too.

While they were at uni, neither Pablo nor Prezioso found 3-bolt-loves. But they should marry, really, because their father dreams of marrying off six children. One reason why Prezioso accepted the invitation to this outing was that I was hoping for the boys to meet potential love interests. But it wasn't to be.

On Tuesday morning, Pablo is lucky and finds a job as Crime Scene Investigator. While he is at work, Prezioso takes care of everything around the house and in the yard.

Right on his first day, Pablo is promoted to Surveillance Operator.

Rick Contrary has been walking by and is invited in to share the brothers' evening meal. "I hear a holiday in the mountains is really good," he remarks. It is true - the twins were part of the group holiday their older sister Paola arranged for (nearly) the whole family some time ago.

On Wednesday, Prezioso wakes up feeling unwell. This persists all week. Good job then that he has not yet found a job. (So much for Pablo's plan to share the bills...!)

Pablo studies hard for his next promotion.

It pays off when he comes home the same nicht as Reconnaissance Communicator. Family friend Titania Summerdream has just arrived, too, and can join in the celebratory dinner.

The next morning, a magic lamp is left for the brothers.

Pablo would like to wish for a job in his dream career, but that is not something the genie can fulfill. He chooses the ability to cheat death instead.

Pablo is really climbing the career ladder fast: Today sees him as the latest Rookie Field Agent. Most of the family have been invited over: the brothers' parents, Gary and Jessica Greenman, and their younger sister Glenda, a teenager still living at home with Mom and Dad. Passers-by Christian Love is asked in, too.

Prezioso tells his little sister some gossip about Gesine Gavigan.

Maybe he should not have been saying nasty things behind someone's back! Small sins are punished instantly, is a German saying, and Prezioso's reward is a charred turkey.

He makes good for his misbehaviour the next day when he invites Gesine over. She has recently graduated, too. There are two bolts between them, but so far, they are just friends.

Pablo is now a Field Agent and comes home not only with his latest promotion, but also with colleague Beta Beaker.

Not even a steamy session in the newly acquired sauna (built and bought with Pablo's promotion bonus and to fulfill one of Prezioso's many buy-me-wishes) changes the friendship between Gesine and Prezioso to anything more.

But they do get along really well, and who knows, things might change once spring comes around.

Saturday is Family Day, since Pablo has the day off and Prezioso still hasn't found a job in the Entertainment career. This time, grandparents Rose and Jason Greenman are invited, too, as well as Uncle Gordon Greenman.

Paola comes over with Gareth Newson, her college sweetheart who obviously dreams of getting married.

It's a lively day, and everybody gets along really well in this large family.

By Sunday morning, Prezioso still has no job.

Seeing how he is so unlucky on the job front, I decide to help him along love-wise and let him call the Matchmaker.

The full 5.000 Simoleons he pays (courtesy of his brother's promotion bonus) show the desired result when Lilo Landgraab is summoned and turns out to be his first and only thre-bolt-lady!

The attraction is mutual, and by Sunday night, we have a couple I am determined to bring together for good once Lilo graduates from uni.

Will Prezioso find a job in his chosen career next week and start contributing to the household financially? Is Pablo also going to enlist the Matchmaker's help?

This was a fun week to play: I love starting a new house, especially since I have not yet used all the new objects, wallpapers and floors I got a few months ago. Most of the time, I waited for the brothers to spin up a wish for a certain object before buying it. This way, it was as if they had a say in the way the house looks now.

Tomorrow, I'll be doing my end-of-year head count of New Maximiliania; watch out for an update on the "Lists and Stats" page of this blog!
Around lunch time, I will be leaving to celebrate New Year's Eve with friends about 2 1/2 hours away by car. If all goes well, I shall be back late on New Year's Day. Until then, Happy New Year to all of you!