The Gere-Green Household: Week 1

Chastity Gere and Gabriel Green are not only housemates, they also have Maxis-written biographies and some pictures to illustrate their background story, which says: 

"Gabriel has known Chastity since elementary school. Now that they are adults they’ve moved to Belladonna Cove and become roommates. Gabriel is so busy trying to learn everything there is to learn he hasn’t noticed that Chastity has become a bit of a wild woman. Will she try to use her wild ways on him?" 

On the first of these pictures, we see kids on a playground. Chastity and Gabriel are unmistakeable, with Gabriel having his nose in a book and Chastity already wearing her signature Mohawk. 

The next picture shows them as adults, the way we know them now, and Chastity has obviously managed to prise Gabriel away from his books long enough for a dance.

Here she is with her hair all plastered down and wearing a suit, in her job as Executive Assistant. She really has that job when the game starts, but I have her quit it since it has nothing to do with her lifetime want of having 20 lovers (a typical Romance Sim, she is). 

Another picture shows them admiring a modern sculpture; by the looks of it, we are in downtown Belladonna Cove, which is where we find the two now.

Once again, Gabriel is seen with a book while Chastity is enjoying a drink in a place that looks like a restaurant. The man with his back to the camera must be Carlos Contender - he and Chastity had something going from the start, and are still romantically involved. 

From here on, the pictures are mine. The two friends have settled in what is not exactly the nicest part of Belladonna Cove, in a building that looks like a former shop or some kind of industrial establishment. 

On the ground floor are a kitchen, lounge with a fire place, a toilet and a pinball machine. 

The first floor up has two bedrooms and a shared bathroom. From the colouring, I would have thought the right one is meant for Chastity (as it befits a Romance Sim) and the left one for Gabriel, but the clothes on the clothes rack look as if it's the other way round, plus the well-filled book case in the more old-fashioned room is obviously Gabriel's.

The roof top is a spacious terrace with a barbeque, table and chairs as well as two deck chairs.

On this Monday, Gabriel - whose lifetime want is to become Chief of Staff - gladly picks up the computer delivered by Mr. Humble and looks for a job in the medical career. No position is open, though, and so for now he will stick to his job as a Convenience Store Clerk in order to pay the bills. 

Chastity does like a drink, it seems - on her own accord, she heads for the bar. 

No welcome committee turns up, but a townie is greeted (Chastity needs to get to know enough men to make her lifetime want come true), and they eat on the roof with a view of Belladonna Cove's high rises. 

Later, they are invited to come downtown (sorry - I forgot who rang) and head to Lulu Lounge.

Many residents of Belladonna Cove are already here. The tap room is dark, but if you look closely, you can make out Gabriel and Chastity sitting at the bar, Sofia Baldwin in the middle of the room and her father talking to a townie to the left. 

Young Marcus Baldwin is on the dance floor along with a townie.

And hogging the dance sphere is no other than Carlos Contender.

There is an outdoor jaccuzzi, and in it are Isabel Baldwin and Jessica Peterson. A rather pregnant Ana Patel can be seen walking past in the back. 

Gabriel has a go at the dance sphere (as per his wish), but he definitely needs more practice, and soon afterwards, he and Chastity leave for home.

Gabriel has no luck on the job front on Tuesday, either, but uses his free time wisely by doing what needs doing around the house and acquiring two cooking skill points - things that make a Knowledge Sim happy.

Justin Cleveland walks by and is greeted, of course. 

Jihoon Hsu, a townie who is only interesting as a potential lover for Chastity, joins him and her for a round of smustle.

Gabriel is full of hope on Wednesday morning, but once again there is no job in the medical field available. He has to work at the store instead, which pays little but at least helps to keep them going financially.

While he's out, Chastity meets & greets Geoff Rutherford - her first and so far only 3-bolt man!

Needless to say, the two get along like a house on fire, and by the time Geoff leaves, there are pink hearts between them. 

After having watched Gabriel and Chastity traipse up and down from the ground floor to the roof top for every single meal and back down again to clear the dishes up, I've had enough and set up a cheap table and chairs in the lounge right next to the kitchen. That should save a lot of time and effort. 

It is autumn now, but next to the wood-burning stove in Chastity's room, Gabriel feels warm enough to look for a job first thing in the morning, barefoot and bare-chested. Still no success, though, and another boring day at the convenience store is waiting. 

Meanwhile, Chastity makes the acquaintance of another townie and potential name for her list of 20 lovers. 

With Aiden Sims, she is nearly there!

And indeed, a few minutes after Thursday turns into Friday, Aiden becomes Chastity's lover # 2. 

It is still dark when early on Saturday morning, Aiden leaves a present for Chastity, announcing to anyone who can hear him (there is nobody around at that time) how fantastic his date with her was. 

Sorry, Aiden - your thoughtful gift may - or may not - be welcome, but you are not going to feature in Chastity's life much more now that you have helped her towards her lifetime want. 

After so much fun, it is time for Chastity to do something serious for a change, and fixing the broken tap on the bath tub is just right. 

But she's back for a lot of fun soon afterwards, inviting Jihoon Hsu over and making him his lover # 3 before the day is over. Meanwhile, Gabriel has put in yet another dreary day at the convenience store - still no job for him in the medical field.

Sunday begins like every day of this week has begun for Gabriel: He looks for a job, and does not find one. That's him as far away of reaching his lifetime want at the end of his first week as at the beginning. 

Winter has set in, and just as Geoff Rutherford arrives upon Chastity's invitation, it snows enough to cover the ground with a thin layer - suddenly, the drab and less than tidy surroundings look much nicer.

"Baby, it's cold outside..." Chastity has just the idea how to handle the cold, and it does not take long for Geoff to become her 4th lover. Since these two are 3-bolters, I intend to keep them together - hopefully, Chastity's next 16 lovers won't send Geoff running in the opposite direction! 

Gabriel returns from work with a colleague. That in itself is hardly surprising, but it IS surprising that this colleague is Ravi Kody, their mailman. The poor chap obviously has two jobs and works at the convenience store after completing his mail round. Still, he fulfills Chastity's wish to meet someone new. 

Gabriel has been so unsuccessful with his lifetime want that I want to have at least one of his biggest wishes fulfilled: To get engaged with Samantha Cordial. He invites her over, and on her own iniative, she holds hands with him.

Her twin sister Kimberly was also asked over, and the two ladies happily wait while Gabriel prepares a festive meal.

While everyone finds a place to sit and eat Gabriel's delicious salmon, Chastity shares the small dining table with Ravi, who has changed out of his store outfit into his mail carrier uniform - he obviously has to do another shift before he can call it a day. 

"You know, I meet many people on my mail rounds, but it is rare to see a lady as beautiful as you..." he flatters Chastity, who obviously treats Ravi as a potential candidate for her list of names. 

The week ends with Chastity having reached 1/5 of her lifetime want and Gabriel having achieved nothing in that department, but at least he is now engaged to Samantha. I guess next time I play the Cordial sisters (which is a long way off), he will move in with his future wife, and leave Chastity to find a way of paying the bills on her own. 

It was nice to play these two, but somehow I have never completely warmed to either of them, no matter in what constellation I have played them before. Still, they are part of my game, and get the same fair chance as all playables.