So there I was, playing with my Sims. I always make them based on real characters. This lot were from Harry Potter, the Black family specifically. They all had little jobs, and skills; it was quite cute, really. So there I was, about to send Sirius to play some guitar while Orion cooked some waffles downstairs. And then something that has never happened to me before happened. A little info icon said: "There's a fire in the kitchen." My first reaction was "Whoa! A fire! Wicked." And I sent Sirius downstairs, not really knowing what to expect. (A fire, perhaps?) And yeah, sure enough, Orion was there flapping at a fire which was spreading around the cheap stove. Damn! Stupid cheap stove! And stupid me for being so frugal... Sirius started doing that "Oh dear! Oh no! Someone put it out!" Thing, and Walburga and Regulus joined the fray. (I made Walburga evil by the way.) Of course, I clicked the fire and "Extinguish flames." I switched to Orion's Sim, and saw from his emotions that he was on fire.
My Sim was on fire.
Now, I don't really like Orion too much, I mean, he was just another evil relative of Sirius. But this wasn't Orion. This was Orion's Sim. I felt a sudden wave of protection – I was responsible for this guy. He'd had a really bad day that day and I really didn't want him to die now. I instantly made Sirius extinguish the flames. As Orion screamed in burning agony I noticed a wish come up.
Orion wishes to order pizza.
You want to order pizza at a time like this? When you're BURNING TO DEATH? God, these computed characters... So after Sirius extinguished the flames on Orion, Orion was apparently "Singed." Oh dear. That doesn't sound so good. I looked at him sadly. He was all burnt. Like he'd been in an explosion. Like I said: Stupid cheap stove!
I turned back to Sirius and guess what – he was on fire now.
He didn't seem to have noticed. Slightly odd when you think about it, I guess. I flew into a panic – having Orion die was one thing, having Sirius die was quite another – and I fumbled around, managed to find Regulus, and told him: "Extinguish Flames." Sirius seemed to notice and started flailing about, trying to put himself out. They're so helpless, I couldn't help thinking. They really depend on me. Regulus put out the flames on the stove, and started chatting to Walburga, while his brother screamed aflame.
!
Desperate, I switched to Walburga, and told her REPEATEDLY "Put out Sim." She did nothing, and after I had told Regulus to put him out again, she was chatting to her friend. Now, I know I made Walburga evil, but when your son is burning to death you do NOT stand and watch and chat to your friend. Even computers should know that.
I searched for Orion, moved Sirius around, moved everyone around, paused the game and told my sister who informed me that "Sims die if they get burnt twice." Oh, how reassuring. Eventually, probably just in the nick of time, Regulus saw the light and put out his brother, who was, thankfully, not singed, just a little shocked. Next thing I saw was a wish from Walburga:
Walburga wishes to see the fiery ghost of Regulus.