The Name's Oliver - Ben Oliver. Ch. 159: Duty vs Ethics, Pt. II

[RaiaDraconis]

I must say I am rather suspicious of the intent behind this club wanting to include Ben. It could be because oe of the members is his boss's husband and I'm a bit leery about her...

An interesting turn of events for certain. You continue to impress with your fantastic writing and engaging style!

[Swirl-Girl]

I left it an 's' so it could stay connected to the joke, so instead I added plenty of money signs!

[RainBeau]

I cannot tell a lie.  The reason it looks normal is because those are their default outfits.  I had nothing to do with creating them.  And it's a while since I took those screenshots, but as far as I can remember I chose Dario DeLuca because he's married to Ben's boss, while Gino Ferrari was one of the judges in the contest, so they both have a connection to Ben.  I think it was pure chance that they happened to be dressed so similarly.  But now that observant readers have commented on the Club jackets, I think it's a great idea!  Thanks to all who raised the point.

Wow! How crazy is that? I love it! Yes, the game has given you a gift. Definitely take it.

[Schipperke]

I want to apologize for the delay in posting the next update.  I had hoped to have an update yesterday or today, but I am having so many problems with my game.  It keeps crashing whenever I use Edit Town (to work on the Dromedary Club) and I am getting so frustrated.  I'm afraid it just isn't going to be possible to get the Club looking the way I want, and I'll just have to accept that.  I did finally manage to put in some outdoor lights and save that bit of work, but everything else is gone.  Sigh.  It looks like I'll have to do the update without the finishing touches I was trying to add.  So probably tomorrow or Thursday.  Thanks for your patience!

[RainBeau]

If you're trying to change their clothes, you don't need to go into Edit Town, right? You could just turn on testing cheats and Edit in CAS. You can even move them in with testing cheats if you needed to.

[Schipperke]

If you're trying to change their clothes, you don't need to go into Edit Town, right? You could just turn on testing cheats and Edit in CAS. You can even move them in with testing cheats if you needed to.

Clothes aren't the issue.  For the sake of screenshots, I've created a  temporary household with all the members and Ben, and I can easily change their clothes by making them the active household.  I need to be able to control them anyway, so that's how I do it.  Thank goodness the game still lets me use Create-a-Sim.  No, it's Buy mode that just seems messed up in my game, and I wish I knew why.  I've been trying to add furnishings to the Club, and the game keeps crashing when I exit the Club and go back to Edit Town.  It's the same sort of problem I'm having in all my households of being unable to save after using Buy Mode, and it's incredibly frustrating. 

[RainBeau]

Clothes aren't the issue.  For the sake of screenshots, I've created a  temporary household with all the members and Ben, and I can easily change their clothes by making them the active household.  I need to be able to control them anyway, so that's how I do it.  Thank goodness the game still lets me use Create-a-Sim.  No, it's Buy mode that just seems messed up in my game, and I wish I knew why.  I've been trying to add furnishings to the Club, and the game keeps crashing when I exit the Club and go back to Edit Town.  It's the same sort of problem I'm having in all my households of being unable to save after using Buy Mode, and it's incredibly frustrating. 

Ah, I'm sorry to hear that. This wonderful game can be so frustrating, can't it? 

[Schipperke]

The Dromedary Club Adventure, Part III

Diary Entry

As I dressed for dinner at the Dromedary Club, I was looking forward to the evening.  To be honest, the idea of belonging to the Sim world's oldest and most exclusive club was strangely exciting.  Not that I cared about the snob appeal part of it, but I liked the idea of Monte Vista's top citizens coming together in an atmosphere of congeniality and cooperation.  Gino Ferrari had said I was a shoo-in for the vacancy.  I was looking forward to meeting the members of this exclusive club I would be joining.  I arrived at the Club* punctually at 7 o'clock.



When I walked in, I saw the Club members in their finery visiting as they waited for their dinner.



Now, I could either go and join the Club members standing around waiting for their meals, or I could chat up the lovely young blonde.  She was all alone.  It seemed the friendly thing to do.



I hurried in to the dining room just as the Club members were finishing their meal.  Chan Seng invited me to share his table.



After dinner I joined the Club members in the back lounge.  Su Lin Chang and Carlo Mancini were engaged in a fierce game of chess.



Mayor Rossi and Gino Ferrari were playing dominoes, as Erika Lin and Dario DeLuca watched.





Seeing that all the Club members had arrived, Dario walked over to the large bookcase.  He touched one of the books, causing the bookcase to slide aside revealing the stairs to the secret club room in the basement.  Dario had told me that was where all Club meetings were held, and it was there that the Club members would be voting on my admission to the Club.



The Club members all filed downstairs, the door closed behind them, and I settled down in the lounge to wait.  Dario had told me the voting would go quickly, and it wasn't long before the Club members re-emerged.

Su Lin Chang and Carlo Mancini were the first to appear.  I sat watching as they hurried out.





Chan Seng cast a glance at me over his shoulder as he left but didn't speak.



I wouldn't have believed Erika Lin could run in those high heels of hers, but she too seemed in a great hurry to leave.



I caught Mayor Rossi's eye as he rushed into the room, but he quickly looked away and ran out.



Finally Dario DeLuca and Gino Ferrari emerged.  Unlike the others, they weren't running.  In fact, they seemed to be dragging their heels.  They sat down on the couch in front of the fire, and I told them how much I was looking forward to being part of the group.



Gino said, "This is how it works when we bring in a new member.  First, the Club members vote on whether to allow the new person to be initiated. 



"The voting is secret.  We take turns sitting at the computer and voting Yes or No.  In order for someone to be accepted as a new member, voting must be unanimous. 



"Then when everyone has voted, the votes are displayed on the wall in random order.  'Yes' votes are shown as white balls on the wall.



"'No' votes show up as black balls.  And even one black ball vote means we cannot accept the person into the Club."



Gino stopped speaking.  He seemed unwilling to go on.  Finally Dario spoke up, saying, "Ben, you've been black-balled.  Someone voted against you."

Diary Entry Ends.

* The Dromedary Club was created by Rhapsody2312.  The original version of the building can be found in the Swap Shop here.  When I talked to Rhapsody about using the building, she not only gave permission for the Dromedary Club to move in, she very generously took the time to renovate it to make it just right for the Club!  I meant to take a daylight shot of the Club to show you the outside, but with all the game problems I've been having, I'm afraid I forgot and will have to do it later.  Rhapsody, the Club members and I are very grateful to you for creating this wonderful clubhouse!

[RainBeau]

It looks so cool! The camel outside is very appropriate. Now, here's a new case for Ben! Who voted against him? Hmmmm

[Audren]

Perhaps Ben voted against Ben? *mindblown* 

In all seriousness, I have my suspicions as to who may have voted against him, but I'll keep them to myself for now. It'll be interesting to see how that works out. The Club itself is quite lovely. Excellent job, Rhapsody!

[Swirl-Girl]

Oh no! I wonder who, um, black-balled him?
I personally have no guesses.

[ladybug53]

Great job on the building for the club Rhapsody !  Poor Ben must feel crushed ....getting Black- Balled like that . I have a hunch who the black- balled him . This was a great chapter . 

[Schipperke]

In all seriousness, I have my suspicions as to who may have voted against him, but I'll keep them to myself for now. It'll be interesting to see how that works out. The Club itself is quite lovely. Excellent job, Rhapsody!

Great job on the building for the club Rhapsody !  Poor Ben must feel crushed ....getting Black- Balled like that . I have a hunch who the black- balled him . This was a great chapter . 

It won't be long before the answer is revealed - probably in the next update - and meantime I appreciate you keeping your suspicions to yourselves.  In a day or two you'll be able to say "I knew it!" 

[Blayzen]

Me too!  I'm intrigued about this club.  Exclusiveness could be a great breeding ground for evil doers.  Now I've been reading too much Kathy Reichs!

Magz, I'm not quite sure it's possible to read too much Kathy Reich's - I have great respect for the wisdom of Dr. Temperence Brennon! Other than that, I have to agree with you. I am also intrigued by the Club of Camel and can't wait to read what happens next. Lucky for me, it's been awhile since I have been able to check the forum so it looks like I won't have to wait long to find out what awaits our intrepid hero! 

[Schipperke]

The Dromedary Club Adventure, Part IV

Diary Entry

Blackballed?  Someone didn't want me in the Club?  But why?  I was stunned.  I didn't understand.



I asked Dario and Gino why someone would vote against me.  What had I done wrong?

A look passed between them.  "I knew there would be problems!" Gino exclaimed. 

Dario sighed, "Yes, but what could we do?  You know how it all went down.  We had no choice."

I wondered what they were talking about.



Gino said to Dario, "He has a right to know."  He looked at me and said, "About a year ago we had a vacancy in the Club.  Su Lin Chang, whom you remember from the Beauty Contest, nominated a criminal."

Dario put in, "We had never had a criminal in the Club before, and naturally most of the members were opposed to opening up the Club to the criminal element."

Gino continued, "Su Lin was determined to get her way.  You know how ambitious and mean-spirited she is.  I think she had some sort of business deal going with Carlo Mancini.  Anyway, she threatened to pull her funding of the Club if he wasn't allowed in."



Dario said, "Some of our more politically-correct members decided we should be all-inclusive and not discriminate against someone just because of his chosen career.  What folly!"

But what did all this have to do with me?

Gino shook his head in disgust.  "I can't say any more.  If anyone suspected I had told you - if it got back to Su Lin or Carlo - they could make life very uncomfortable for me."  He got up and left.



I expected Dario to leave too.  But he said, "I can't just walk out.  Ben, my wife speaks very highly of you.  You deserve to know the whole story.  As a scientist, it goes against my grain to cover up the truth.  And besides, you know Veronica is a pretty formidable woman.  I believe Su Lin and Carlo would think twice before going up against her.



"It's true that voting is secret and nobody knows for sure who voted against you.  But I'm as sure as I can be that it was Carlo Mancini."  He whispered, "I overheard Carlo telling Su Lin that he couldn't vote for anyone who didn't support his charities.  Support!  That's a joke.  What he means, of course, is that he pays to undermine charities.  What a dark day when we allowed him into the Club."



Suddenly a memory flashed into my mind.  My first night in Monte Vista, when I couldn't sleep and went for a late walk.  I met - what was her name?  And there was another encounter, I had almost forgotten.



Carlo Mancini was evil.  And like all Evil Sims, he hated Good Sims.  That was what he had against me.  That was why he would never vote to let me join the Club.

I thanked Dario for telling me and assured him that Su Lin and Carlo would never hear it from me.  We said goodnight.



I walked home, thinking about what had happened.  Being blackballed - rejected - had made me feel strangely bereft.  I had really been looking forward to being part of the Club.  The secret nature of my work meant that I spent a lot of time on the road, and many of the people I encountered were unpleasant sorts.  It was of necessity a fairly solitary life, and I realized that I had been missing the kind of acceptance and companionship I had expected to come from belonging to the Club.  Now I was back to my rather lonely existence.  My commanding officer had been so enthusiastic about me joining the Club.  How was I going to tell her that they didn't want me?