Click here for Week 2.
A small house on one of the mountain slopes around the oldest part of New Maximiliania. Who lives here?
Pablo Picaso, whom we left last time having made good headway with his lifetime want of becoming Head of SCIA - he was working as a Double Agent.
Now, upon entering the lot, I find Pablo's age has been reset to the very start of adulthood, same as happened with Parvati Patel. That wouldn't be so bad, but he is unemployed as well!
On this Monday, he is unsuccessful in getting back into his former career.
Money is not a problem, as there are still almost 15,000 Simoleons on his account, but he was doing so well and now has to start again.
Nothing much happens on this day. I find an NPC in Pablo's phone book who has a surname that makes him eligible to become a permanent resident here: Cole Fleig. Remember, I have a Mr and Mrs Fleig in my very near neighbourhood, and I have decided to make NPCs playable if they have a surname I know in real life. Two Fleigs - Jill and Johnson - already live in New Max.
Pablo ends the day stargazing, but no Aliens are looking for new friends tonight, it seems.
Pablo gets up full of optimism on Tuesday morning. He may still be living alone and has lost his job mysteriously, but he definitely will get it back one day soon!
His optimism is slightly dampened when the shower breaks, but he can quickly repair it.
The orange tree in front of his house needs some attention.
Not working also means more time for his hobby since college days. Also, he talks on the phone to several of his friends before once again ending the day at the telescope.
By Wednesday, Pablo's friendship with Cole Fleig is good enough for him to invite the native of Three Lakes to be his house guest for the next three days.
Unfortunately, it is also the day he manages to get back into his former career. At noon, the car pool picks him up to work as a Reconnaissance Communicator again. In order for his visitor not to spend the first day all alone, Pablo asks his brother Prezioso over to keep Cole company.
He returns with a promotion to Rookie Field Agent. Cole has spent most of the afternoon in the sauna, an extension built to Pablo's house long ago. His brother Prezioso has left hours ago, and now Cole is glad to have a bowl of Mac'n Cheese with his host.
Over breakfast on Thursday morning, Pablo asks his guest whether he can imagine to up sticks in Three Lakes and move to New Max for good. Cole is not averse to the idea, but not quite ready yet, either.
Then I make two stupid mistakes: I want to send the two men to do some food shopping and give Cole the opportunity to meet more New Maximilianians.
But I forget to form a group, and so Pablo gets into the taxi alone - mistake No. 1. I send the taxi to Stratford Strip and then find that there is no groceries shop there - mistake No. 2.
Pablo goes back home immediately, but the damage is done.
When he returns home from work that evening, he finds the house empty - Cole is gone, and the game informs me that Pablo has been a bad host, prompting his guest to leave earlier than planned.
Still, it isn't an allover lost day for Pablo: He has been promoted to Field Agent.
Pablo thinks long and hard about how to apologise to Cole on Friday.
Before he goes to work, he rings him. Cole accepts the apology - it really wasn't Pablo's fault, to be honest - and Pablo expresses his wish to be best friends with Cole. He also invites him to visit again; with the weekend off, Cole should have no reason for complaining about being left alone by his host.
The weekend is here - and Cole! The two men become best friends the moment Pablo gives Cole a welcome-back hug.
They spend the afternoon relaxing in the sauna...
...and are glad that the sun is once more shining on their friendship.
For the evening, Pablo invites his older sister Paola, her husband and son. Cole is impressed of how well Paola can do the chestpount greeting so familiar to any native of Three Lakes.
There is one less-than-happy moment when Pablo attempts to repair the computer and is electrocuted. All he needs is the toilet and the shower, and soon afterwards, his family say good-bye and the two men go to sleep.
By Sunday morning, the pizza Pablo ordered for yesterday's family gathering has gone off, and he can only throw it away.
He then has breakfast with Cole, and there are glasses of champagne with the toaster pastries - why the celebratory mood?
Because Cole accepts Pablo's inviation to move to New Maximiliania! He even receives a welcome present.
Cole Fleigh, native from Three Lakes, is a Family Sim with the wish to celebrate his Golden Anniversary. He adds 7,000 Simoleons to the household account, which of course I immediately transfer to his inventory in the shape of objects worth that sum.
And who should walk past this afternoon than Jill Fleig?
"I didn't dare hope Cole would be able to meet a relative on his first day as a New Maximilianian," Pablo thinks, and invites Jill in.
There is no romantic attraction between any of them, which makes it easier for me to treat Jill and Cole as relatives.
The week ends with Cole moving out, and I guess it will be a while before we will find out where he lives now and who he could possibly celebrate the Golden Anniversary with eventually.
How is Pablo going to fare in the mean time? Will he keep hold of his job, or is the game going to reset his age and make him unemployed again when I next play here?
His sister's household, Paola and Garrett, is next on my list.
