A New Start
Xavier told himself that Bettencourt Manor was on his way to work. He told himself that he didn’t care what was going on inside or if Veronica was home or not. He told himself that on the first trip around the block and the second.
Just as Xavier was taking his third pass by the house, Robert awoke with the distinct feeling that something was missing. He had taken to wearing his thinking cap at all times ever since he had failed to ferret out the identity of the Voice. The only time he was without it was when he went to bed, the light bulb kept hitting the headboard and waking him up.
His new headgear annoyed his wife, he realized this but couldn’t stop himself. Just like he couldn’t stop himself from talking like Sam Spade, not that he always recognized when he was doing it but Maxine was sure to let him know.
Maxine had tried to throw the damn helmet away.
but Robert would just find an old one. It was like he couldn’t live without it and Maxine was not beginning to get worried, she had been worried but she wasn’t willing to have him committed. The only place to send him was Dr. Holdon’s rehab clinic and that wasn’t appropriate, unless you could count black and white detective movies as an addiction. No, Maxine would handle this on her own, she just wasn’t sure how.
With spring finally sprung, Maxine hoped that warmer weather would draw her husband out of his winter time funk but looking at him, she wondered.
“Robert, dear, don’t you think it’s dangerous to mix electricity and water?” she asked calmly. Veronica looked toward her father and thanked heavens that he had chosen the wet suit, it was strange but it was better than the alternative.
“Nope, it’s not in the water. See?” Robert bobbed over to his wife, head studiously held above water.
Maxine breathed a sigh of relief when Robert finally decided to emerge from the pool and again, Veronica thanked the heavens that he had chosen the wet suit.
“Look at this, ladies. 61 and fit as a fiddle, the Voice has to fear me on two levels now,” Robert struck a pose and for the third time, Veronica said a silent thank you.
It appeared that Maxine had been overly protective, but from her vantage point, she couldn’t see that the tuft of white hair at the back of her husband’s neck had gotten wet.
For the first time in his career, a customer’s pleas touched Death and he offered Robert a game of chance in which the odds were surprisingly even. Who would have thought Death was such a fair guy?
Renewed, revitalized and feeling years younger, but most importantly, feeling sane and like he had been given a second chance to complete his mission Robert whipped off his helmet and galantly bowed to his still anxious wife, “My dear, I’m back!” he said.
———-
Notes: I admit to attempting to kill Robert, but considering the events it apparently was not his time to go. These elders are hanging around forever!
September 11th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I can’t believe you tried to kill him! Poor Robert. Did you do something with your pictures they look different.
edit: Since he aged at platinum, he’s going to live forever. No detective can be that stupid so eventually he would have figured out who the Voice was hence I tried to kill him. Evil, I know
I sharpened the pics in photoshop, it’s an added step and I’m not sure the result is worth the effort. I’m lazy
September 11th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Wow! Really, poor Robert!
Although I guess wearing his helmet EVERYWHERE is kinda annoying for Maxine…but at least he’s back to normal now! I really loved the way your pictures looked so professional! It’s like you ALWAYS plan every inch of what you write! 
edit: It’s embarrassing to go out to dinner with a man in a helmet lol Thanks! The pics are from the in game camera and I just started sharpening them in Photoshop for this post. I used to plan ahead, but my sims never seem to know what my plan is and they ruin it
September 11th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
wow! I didn’t know you could plead with death for your own life. great update!
edit: I didn’t know either! Robert aged at platinum and was platinum while I was trying to off him, that may have been his salvation. After he won the game with Death, I had to let him live. It just seemed wrong to kill him.
September 12th, 2008 at 8:00 am
The pleading for your own life is a reward from the lamp, but you have to actively use it and wish for “longer life” or something to that effect. I’ve never had an elder in platinum plead for their own life otherwise. O_o The process can also halt Old Age death, too.
Poor Robert! Look out, man, your creator has it in for you! And Veronica continually thankful that he was wearing a wetsuit cracked me up.
edit: When I first got FT, Robert wished for longer life and ended up three days younger than Maxine. I completely forgot about that until you mentioned the lamp, but that’s not what you mean, is it? You mean at the moment of death? I knew one sim could plead for another but this never happened before, I’m curious…maybe I’ll try and kill Catherine bwa ha ha
September 12th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Did Robert plead by himself or did you make him? If he did it by himself than that was his way of showing you that it wasn’t his time to go?
I did not know that wearing the thinking cap in the pool would cause electrocution? Very interesting.
edit: It was autonomous, so I guess his time wasn’t up. I don’t think wearing the cap in the pool will cause death, it should though everyone knows electricity and water don’t mix, but I spawned the death creator and selected “electrocution”. Yes, I really had it in for him.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:52 am
My oh my, i thought you will kill off or try to kill Francis first. Thank the sims god for the failed attempt. I like Robert a lot and i don’t mind seeing him more.
edit: Francis is going to end up living a very long life, I hope but we see how my sims foil my plans
September 12th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Just got caught up on reading your entries from this summer! I’d never seen the pleading for your own life thing before. Guess Robert was trying to tell you it’s just not his time to go!
And Veronica cracked me up!
edit: Me either! I had already dug the man’s grave lol Veronica does tend to be a little shallow