Julien Cooke - Week 2

Julien's first week is here.

We're staying in Desiderata Valley, but I am glad to say NOT for yet another "year" at Sim State Uni :-) This is Julien Cooke's house. The first week with him was so long ago (autumn 2023!) that I had to re-read that chapter to remind me of what he's been up to. 

Still a Popularity Sim, Julien made a u-turn in his career and went from culinary to athletic: His lifetime want is to become Hall of Famer. He ended his first week on the position of All Star, and that's how we find him on this Monday morning. 

So far, he has made a few friends but will need more for his career and to satisfy his typical Popularity-related wishes. No lady or gentleman has as yet captured his interest in a romantic way. 

With over 7,100 Simoleons on his bank account, he can afford to buy the exercise machine he's been wishing for, and he uses it in the hope of gaining another body skill point required for his next promotion. He also adds bedside tables and a nice wardrobe to his sparse bedroom. 

Nothing worth mentioning happens on Tuesday; it's a day off for Julien, and he spends it working out, cleaning, calling a friend, doing the crossword and even enjoying an afternoon nap. 

He also has Wednesday off, and he walks to Gustav's Grocery - a community lot I rarely play but should really have my Sims visit more often; it has everything from groceries to clothes to jewellery.

Julien grabs any chance he gets to meet more residents of The Valley. Here, he greets Toby Scott. 

He buys groceries, too. 

Then he meets and greets Ashley Pitts. 

He wants to go swimming, and what better place than the nearby "Sparks! Sports Park".

At first it seems it's Men Only Day at Sparks!, but eventually a few women appear, and several neighbours make use of the various sports facilities here.

There are Jimmy Phoenix, John Mole, Nathan Gavigan among others. 

Swimming makes hungry, and everybody flocks to the rooftop terrace when they catch the scent of Julien's hot dogs.

Back home, he has a nap before engaging in a good work-out in his private gym room. 

Cynthia Kim and Isaac Bell have been walking past and were invited in, and because Julien loves nothing more than to have a meal with friends, he asks the Aspirs over as well. Only the ladies seem to be hungry at first... 

...but eventually, the men leave the (more or less) comfortable settee and join them at the table.

Julien's smile says it all when he gets off the team bus on Thursday: He is now his team's MVP!

After he has had a shower, he greets passers-by Marcel Jocque. But instead of eating with him, Marcel is glued to the computer and browses the Simternet. Eventually, Julien politely says good-bye to his disinterested guest and sits down to study the Mechanical skill he needs in view of his next promotion.

On Friday, I expect Julien to be promoted, but in spite of him having all the required skills, number of friends and Platinum mood, he gets off the team bus with only his daily salary and nothing else. 

He wants to be friends with Cynthia Kim, and so he invites her over for a meal of Mac & Cheese. As always, his food goes down a treat, and the two become friends, with Julien hoping they'll eventually be best friends. 

The expected promotion follows on Saturday: Julien is now a happy, smiling Superstar! 

Of course, each promotion means more skills are required for the next step up the career ladder. But Julien is prepared to do what it takes to become a Hall of Famer, and he acquires the two Mechanical points in one long sitting, helped by the Thinking Cap.

He then invites Jimmy Phoenix over. The two of them have only met a few days ago when Julien visited Sparks! Sports Park, but they quickly become friends over a game of kicky bag.

Julien works on Sunday, too, and returns with a promotion to Assistant Coach. That's two steps away from reaching his lifetime want, I think! But he needs FIVE skill points now, and that'll take more than just one day. 

After he's had a shower and changed into a smart-casual outfit, he spots Kevin Beare walk by and greets him. "So this is the new Assistant Coach", Kevin thinks. 

If a promotion does not call for a party, I don't know what does! Julien invites all his friends: Elizabeth Aspir, Cynthia Kim, Cyd Roseland, Jimmy Phoenix and the Gavigans. Kevin is included in the party, and he'll be pleased to see his old from uni, Jimmy. 

Who says champagne doesn't go with Hamburgers? It does, when the burgers were made by Julien! 

This was a quick week with only a single Sim to manage. Julien was really focused on his career but at the same time did not neglect making and maintaining friends. 

He never showed any romantic interest in anyone, in spite of it being spring. Who knows - once he's achieved his lifetime want, he might want to share his life with that special someone. 

Also, he now has plenty of money and could upgrade his modest house, or move to a more luxurious place.