The layout of my Nawt Vaya Free State land on the continent of Jeogeot in the virtual world of Our Second Lyfe has changed. Frank’s Giant Castle in the Skies has now been moved down and grounded (in reality?). Cement Village, last seen in Aisle of Palms over a year back, has become the new business center, housing Daisy Flathead’s Hole in the Wall and more. Let’s go inside and see how she feels about it.
“How do you feel about the move to the old Aisle of Palms’ Cement Village?” I ask through Biker Frank.
“I don’t know,” she might answer. “How do *you* feel about the move of your Giant Castle in the Skies down to the ground. Reality?”
“Maybe,” he admits. “But, bigger picture, welll…”
“I’m not with Biker if that’s what you’re asking. Me and you: we’re still a team. Moving forward.”
Frank is overjoyed, overlapping his hand with hers on the counter just like in the beginning. *Now* the movement of the castle is a success.
“I feel safe here… safer,” she exposes her emotions the new location. “Since I’m not right on the Nawt Vaya shoreline and (so) further away from the alcoholic sea monster. *Non*-alcoholic sea monster I guess I have to add now, since he gobbled up my first successful batch of personal (non-)brew along with the old bar!”
Both laugh. Frank had to ask this next: “Where *is* Biker, then?”
“Where was he ever? All I know is that he came from the south.”
“South, right.”
“Somewhere near the southern end of Nawt Vaya but not right on it. I went to his house, er, *once*?”
As if prompted, Frank takes another swig of the house beer while simultaneously withdrawing his hand from hers. Michelob Zero still, but not for long. New batch of personal brew in the works! He’s readying himself for another question, a one worder this time. Daisy knew she kind of screwed up with that revelation. “House?” he clips out. Swig again, hands further apart.
A call just then coming in on Frank’s phone. Ring tone: “Blue Moon of Kentucky”. “I have to take this,” he says, and goes outside for privacy. Mouse returned? he psychically senses. No, that can’t be it, he rejects the psychic insight. He’s died twice already. Two’s the limit, right? Surely it is. Can’t be…
But that’s exactly what *she* told him that day in April’s May coming up behind him swiftly like a lion from March. Mouse has come back, kind of once more. And already on his last leg and death bed in one.
“W-where?” Another one word question, a one word answer back.
“Meet me there,” she said after giving the location. “By the big head in the middle. I’ll take you to him.”
Daisy wanted so badly to ask who he was on the phone with when he returned to his seat at the bar but dare not because of the look on his face. Sour! Tension in their relationship hasn’t quite been resolved yet. Doubts on both sides still. Let’s deflect the blame to AI again. Just to be safe, or safer.
“I have to go,” he said, laying one of Mouse’s remnant teners won at cards on the counter as a tip. Fitting. TBC
Sunklands 