Myshuno! 2012 Prompt: “Lighting a candle” (258 words)

[esmeiolanthe]

The prompt for this story was “Lighting a candle,” submitted by dicreasy. This story takes place before the first chapter of Jack Point’s Home for Pedestrian Playables – rather like a prologue.

Rating: G

Dramatis Personae

Ernie the Spoon, formerly a violent and dangerous criminal, now an inmate resident obsessed with Grilled Cheese.

DeAyer Cuidador, the caretaker.

Ivanova Doctor, another resident, certain that she is a doctor, although her name is the closest she’s ever gotten to medical school.

Milton Rossi, ex-military with paranoid tendencies, and convinced that everyone is under threat from invisible telepathic rabbit ninjas.

Setting

The lounge on the second floor of the asylum residential facility for people with psychological differences. DeAyer, Milton, and Ivanova are watching TV when Ernie the Spoon stands directly in front of it.

ERNIE THE SPOON: Good afternoon, brothers and sisters. I have come to you today about the Truth of Cheese.

DEAYER: You’re blocking the TV.

ERNIE THE SPOON: A wise man once said “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” And today, brothers and sisters, I bring the light of the candle of the Truth of Cheese to your Cheese-blighted darkness.

DEAYER: Down in front!

ERNIE THE SPOON: I say again, the Truth of Cheese. Now I know, brothers and sisters, that people may say to you “Eating nothing but grilled cheese sandwiches is unhealthy.” But we can know that is untrue. Consider the basic food groups: grain, protein, dairy, and just a little bit of fat. Why, a grilled cheese sandwich contains them all! The bread contains the grain of your choice, be it whole wheat or bleached, rye or pumpernickel.

(Ernie the Spoon continues talking through the following)

DEAYER: Ernie, shut up about the grilled cheese already!

IVANOVA: Subject is displaying distinct antisocial tendencies and definite suicidal behavior.

DEAYER: Shut it, Ivanova! You have no idea what you’re talking about.

MILTON (mildly): I think she’s right. I mean, even the rabbits walk softly around Mr. the Spoon.

DEAYER: There are NO telepathic rabbit ninjas!

MILTON: Well, you would say that, because they’re invisible to everyone but me.

DEAYER: That’s it! I can’t take this anymore! I quit! (stomps out, not even bothering to pack)

ERNIE THE SPOON: And that, brothers and sisters, is the Truth of Cheese. Can I get a “gouda”?

Comments

[amylu1988.livejournal.com]

All the sims in my game agree, Mr the Spoon. :) Poor things have been eating nothing but Grilled Cheese since 2008, and they're fine...*eye twitch*

Interesting to see what made the last caretaker leave, Leila is doing much better! :D

[esmeiolanthe.livejournal.com]

Yes, but your Sims don't sing songs about it, do they? Or try to convert the unbelievers? ;P

I always wondered why the position was vacant. Now that I got this prompt, I know the answer. And you're right: Leila is a trooper! (Plus she reeeeeeeeeally wants those wings!)

Thanks for reading! :D

[mzyra.livejournal.com]

Gouda!
A number of my sims also agree and would offer to help Mr Spoon as an out-patient to get him right in society without having to part him from the wonders of limitless cheese :)

Also: being a sane person stuck in an insane asylum with no-one believing you = nightmare fuel <.< >.>

[esmeiolanthe.livejournal.com]

LOL! :D

...I was going to ask if they were willing to put up with a dangerous, violent, potentially homicidal criminal. And then I remembered who I was talking to. ;)

Nightmare fuel indeed! Although Mr. Cuidador did know what he was signing up for when he took the job.

Thanks for reading! :D

[mzyra.livejournal.com]

You know me too well ^.^

Well, it's one thing volunteering to work there, but being sectioned when you're (ostensibly) sane but nobody will believe you and the rest of the patients are far worse... But I imagine you get many people in denial, even where they do have issues :/

Wish I had time to do so more often!

[esmeiolanthe.livejournal.com]

You're right about that! You know, I seem to recall Amy once mentioning in her story about a psychologist, perfectly sane, who became a voluntary admit to see what conditions in asylums were like... and the staff interpreted his sane behaviors (like sitting quietly and taking notes) as symptoms of severe madness and almost drove him there. O_O

[katrisims.livejournal.com]

Oh the cheese! I don't have a lot of grilled cheese sims running around regularly, but I think I might have to keep a few away from mr. Spoon, just in case they might get ideas...

[esmeiolanthe.livejournal.com]

I bet I have fewer Grilled Cheese Sims than you do -- at the moment, it's Oakapple and Mr. the Spoon. Do you actually have Mr. the Spoon in your game?! O.O I know I put him up for download ages ago (at Jo's request), but I thought she was the only one who nabbed him.

I ripped off the idea of the religious thing from what I saw of rubbersushi's Church of Cheese years ago. But you have to admit, it's a fun idea!

Thanks for reading! :)