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

[Schipperke]

I have never commented on any story before, but I just wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed this story and all of your other tales.

Thank you very much, InvenTeck!  I'm very pleased that you've enjoyed the stories, and may I suggest you stay tuned?  Ben has further adventures ahead of him! 

And by the way, welcome to the forum.  I hope you'll enjoy it.

By the way, Magz, in response to your question as to what traits were changed - would you believe none at all?  Yes, it's true - I checked his traits after he drank the potion, and they were exactly the same as before he drank it.  Which came as quite a surprise to me, I can tell you!  But not to worry - the story requires Ben to return to his old self, so I'm making use of the little tricks we all know and love - testing cheats, exiting without saving, etc.   

[RainBeau]

The same thing happened when I tried to change King's traits with Opposite Personality in House of White. No effect whatsoever. So I used cheats as well. Haha.

[Schipperke]

The same thing happened when I tried to change King's traits with Opposite Personality in House of White. No effect whatsoever. So I used cheats as well. Haha.

Great minds think alike! 

It's interesting, though - now that I know it wasn't just some odd glitch in my game, I'm wondering what would make Opposite Personality not work sometimes.  Maybe the Alchemists' Guild needs to look at their quality control.

[Audren]

Is it possible that it can only work once per Sim? I don't know a lot about the Supernatural potions, so I don't know if that's a ridiculous idea or not.

[Schipperke]

Is it possible that it can only work once per Sim? I don't know a lot about the Supernatural potions, so I don't know if that's a ridiculous idea or not.

It's an interesting question, and quite possible.  But that can't be what's happened here, because I have several versions of Ben's story saved.  The initial transformation took place in a different save file, then when I was playing Carl and Ben for the latest chapter, I just used testing cheats to give Ben the Evil and Loser traits.  So that particular Sim had never had the elixir before.  All I can say is, thank goodness for testing cheats, because I really wouldn't want to leave my protagonist as an Evil Loser.

[Blayzen]

Oh! I can't tell you how happy I am that we'll be getting our Ben back! As much fun as it was watching his transformation, (clothes, hair, tattoos, and facial expressions,) I really think it's time that our hero was returned to us. I just hope that the shock of everything he's been through doesn't cause him to doubt himself or his ability to make a difference... 

Thank goodness for Carl, Callie Cat, and Tough Love!

[Schipperke]

Oh! I can't tell you how happy I am that we'll be getting our Ben back! As much fun as it was watching his transformation, (clothes, hair, tattoos, and facial expressions,) I really think it's time that our hero was returned to us. I just hope that the shock of everything he's been through doesn't cause him to doubt himself or his ability to make a difference... 

Thank goodness for Carl, Callie Cat, and Tough Love!

Blayzen, you have a way of putting your finger on the nub of things.  I too have been missing the "real" Ben.  When I decided to do this "opposite personality" adventure I don't think I realized how much the different traits would change him.  His facial expressions and mannerisms were totally different.  One reason I decided to do this segment of the story was that I sometimes wonder if Ben is too much the good guy.  If you've read any of my other stories, you may have noticed that I like to play flawed characters.  Ben's woman chasing was meant to be his flaw, but I wanted to see what he'd be like with a really big flaw.  And I don't think being an evil loser really suits him.  I intended to write this part of the story from his perspective, but just couldn't.  It didn't feel like Ben to me.  Which is why most of the last few episodes were written in third person.  But this experience is going to lead into his next adventure, which you'll see in a few episodes from now.

Thanks for the comments, Blayzen and everyone.

[Schipperke]

The Long Road Back, Part I

Diary Entry

When I awoke, or maybe it would be more accurate to say I came to, I was in my own bed.



For a minute as I struggled awake, I allowed myself to hope that it had all been a bad dream.  And now that I was awake, everything would be fine.  It had never happened.  I had not gone around dressed like a thug, masterminding plots, frightening people, and (I cringed at the memory) stealing candy from innocent children.  But I knew that was just wishful thinking.  It had really happened.  I had disgraced myself and the military, embarrassed and alienated my friends, destroyed my reputation.  All alone in my bedroom, I hung my head in shame.  How could I face people?  I dreaded what I might see in their eyes - would I see pity, mistrust, resentment?  Would my friends and colleagues want nothing more to do with me?

I couldn't face them.  I stayed in my room.  The television was playing some mindless cartoon, but I barely noticed it.



The girls took turns bringing up my meals, but I didn't care.  I had no appetite.



May managed to convince the doctor to make a house call.  He told me to stick out my tongue -



- and said that if I didn't eat, he would have me hospitalized and fed through a tube.  I began forcing myself to eat some of what I was given, even though nothing seemed to have any taste at all.

The phone rang frequently but I ignored it.



I refused to leave my room, and few visitors were willing to make the three-storey climb up the stairs to see someone who had nothing to say to them.  Then one day a sharp knock came at the door, and Carl burst into the room.  "What's this I hear?" he demanded.  "Are you sick?  This isn't at all like you - what's wrong?"



I knew my old friend cared about me, and I knew I owed him a huge debt of gratitude for helping me shake free of the Evil that had enslaved me, but I couldn't face him. I covered my face, said I didn't feel well, and asked him to go.



Carl gave me one last searching look before leaving.



I heard his steps on the stairs, then his deep voice expostulating, May's quieter tones responding, but I couldn't make out what was being said and didn't care.  I dozed off but my dreams were filled with images of airplanes crashing and burning.



I have no idea how many days passed in this manner.  It seemed forever.  Then one day I heard a loud pounding on the door downstairs.  I vaguely wondered who it might be and continued staring at the cartoons on television.

[RaiaDraconis]

Poor Ben. It's going to take a lot for him to recover from something like this.

[MarianT]

Ben needs to get up, go apologize to the people he hurt, and get on with his life.

[ladybug53]

Well , as they say, tomorrow is an other day . Go for a nice walk and I'm sure you'll see something to bring back that spark in your eyes . Self pity gets you nowhere . On with it Ben !  Great chapter . I quite liked the photo of Ben sticking his tongue out . I have no idea how you did that . 

[Louise56]

Poor Ben, but it will be best to get out of the bed and face people. Who can the last visitor be?

[RainBeau]

I won't guess because I know Schip likes her surprises, but I have an idea! 

[Schipperke]

I quite liked the photo of Ben sticking his tongue out . I have no idea how you did that . 

To be honest, I don't remember how that picture happened.  It was some time ago, and I just knew I had to find a use for it, so I've been saving it.

I won't guess because I know Schip likes her surprises, but I have an idea! 

I bet you have!  I don't know how much of a surprise it's going to be, but thank you for not spilling the beans just yet. 

[RainBeau]

You're welcome. *feeling very virtuous* I wish they had an angel emoticon here . . . Found it!