Walking through the arch once more, Opp traveled far from Braynard’s Place to a 4 sim land some call Eden itself.
Whilst sitting against a log beside a grove of nice, pink trees, he is inspired to write a song about New Island’s Pipewold and being X-ed out.
But he was not alone. For the Alices were there.
And the Rabbits.
And some others.
All in all, a Grand Old Time was had of it.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0601, Mexico, New Eden-, New Island
I’m sorry I haven’t gotten back to Annie’s New Island story in a while. She’s been attempting to run around the entire island most days now, but always seems to get distracted or sidetracked by this and that. She knows about the abandoned artist colony in its southernmost region (where more recently met Alice 02 was once a successful landscape painter), but hasn’t received the whole story about what happened there. And today, while attempting to round the northern part of the isle, she finally met Big Red again, sunbathing in the nude at Yd Bay (pronounced like “Wide Bay”). Emboldened by the obvious aesthetics, she struck up a conversation. Big Red then said he’d throw on some clothes and that they could meet at the recently remodeled Fishers Island Amusement Park, now a bar/social hangout, to resume their talk. We catch up with them there.
“Tennessee Colony it was originally called,” Big Red continued about the former artist colony that attracted Annie to the island in the first place. “Run by a woman named such. Sculptor. I believe she did…” — he puts his finger to his mouth here in a pondering gesture — “yes, she sculpted men’s parts as I recall.”
Men’s *parts*, Annie thought, and then wondered why *she* hadn’t thought of that. But then Annie was mildly disappointed to find out Big Red meant arms and legs and heads and so on as well as, yes, the occasional one based on those bits in the phallic region. She learned of such a work named “Flapper” she was itching to see for possible inspiration. Yes, Annie had to find out more about this Tennessee woman: her style, her influences, her life in general.
Blue Jay Wade ambled up from his home just to the south. “Hi Mr. Butler, he spoke to Big Red, and then glanced at Annie without introducing himself. He looked around, obviously concerned. “What happened to my amusement park?”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0515, New Island
The couch here is unusable, with no sitting scripts. Tired of standing, Bill (Wheeler) rezzes a wearable chair in Philip Strevor’s so-called “waiting room” and tries to be patient. 1 1/2 hours Mrs. Hazelhurst has been in there, she complains inwardly, but does not dare to say aloud. This place has been bugged for as long as she can remember.
—-
The Boss was admiring his mermaid cabinet when Bill walked in. She had not seen Mrs. Hazelhurst in the hallway but had heard the shutting door. Bill figured she exited through the lounge.
“Red, green, blue,” he began, describing the string of shiny, netted balls immediately before him. “The mermaids and mermen called them marbles for some reason.” He turned to face Bill. “How can I help you today?”
Bill crossed her arms. “You called *me* here. Remember?”
“Oh yes. Of course.” He waved for Bill to be seated. He took his place in The Boss’ chair. “I’m sorry there’s no chair available. The maid took it off for cleaning.”
“That’s all right,” Bill said matter of factly. “I came prepared this time.” She rezzes her wearable attachment again and automatically has a seat in it. She then positions herself so she can face Philip squarely.
“Rat lost his property in the Pond District,” he then said, appearing to scan the photos on the bulletin board beside him. “Owner came back and returned his vanity, his ratmobile. Now why would someone squander a perfectly good piece of property beside that beautiful Linden right of way, not rezzing a house, a farm, nothing?”
“They don’t appreciate what they have,” offered Bill. “They don’t understand the beauty, the loveliness, of Our Second Lyfe.”
“Perhaps.” He leans forward, looking down to consider and then up again. “We made your chess move while you were away playing that role. “Pawn to King 3. I hope you don’t mind. We figured we couldn’t keep Ellen waiting any longer.”
Bill felt the anger rising within but bit her tongue again. “I see,” she managed after a weighted pause. “And has Ellen had time to respond? Or is he still stuck on the beach?” She tried to smile but found she couldn’t.
“The New Island beach, yes,” Philip Strevor said nonchalantly. “The Hook I think they call it in that Moth Man’s book. He removed his web site because of us, you know. Didn’t like the idea of another New Island besides his own. The one *he* owns the trademark for. A public/private domain affair again. I have a whole drawer full of those kind of documents.
“I know,” replied Bill. “She then glances at the money and Philip follows her eyes. “Still haven’t put away that wad of cash, eh? Gloating at the clientele, are you? Like me.”
“No,” Philip said. “That a new stack. Mrs. Hazelhurst graciously gave it to us in return for her safe passage to Zindra. Lots of people leaving this place, Wheeler, er Bill. The axemen and swordsmen and their ilk can’t keep them here forever. Soon enough, people cave in on paying the price. Your friend Roger Pine Ridge is next, if you ask me.”
“You’re barking up the wrong tree there, I think. Roger doesn’t have any money. Cyberpaperdoll got out of the village with that cash they made from the (ruby) slippers heist. Roger thought Iris would be safe — away from prying eyes over at Collagesity. He was wrong.”
Philip settled back into his seat, getting comfortable. “I know all about that. We don’t want his money, we want his *time*. Though brain damage could come later.”
“Hmm.” Bill paused, then: “How much time does he have?”
“Two, three, four weeks on this?” Philip answered as a question.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0417, Iris, New Island
“We’d like to negotiate a price for Gus, Eraserhead Man.”
“Alright.”
“We have a spare 4 handed Librarian to give to you, but my guess is that won’t be enough.”
“I don’t need another librarian,” replies the pencil being in his somewhat tinny voice. “We have enough of those back in the closet now.”
“Then how about another movie deal?” asks Axis, smooth like a serpent. “‘Billy the Mountain’ meets ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’. ‘Frank’s Moving Mountain’, in summary.”
“What would I do with such a thing as that you are describing? Invite Annie and Karl over for a party?”
“Do what you wish with it. Play it for entertainment and amusement during posh Hollywood parties.”
“Like I said…”
“I know, I know.” Axis removes his hand from his chin. “No Hollywood parties. I get it.”
“I just sit at home mainly and meditate or cook. You’re invited over for 3 cheese lasagna any time.”
“Thank you.”
“I mean it. The new guys (Annie and Karl) can come over too. *That* can be our party. Robot too, of course.”
“Well… how ’bout it, then?” Axis stared steadily at him.
Eraserhead Man lit up a cigarette without asking permission. “I have some questions,” he responded while puffing away.
—–
“He asked about the Mission, ma’am. What do I tell him?”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0413, Braynard's Place-, New Island
I distinctly remember that conifer tree right there, Robot Derak Jones thinks while reviewing the appearance of (The Monster) night before last in his mind. Appearing and then fading away, like a noisy apparition. Never could find the source. Well today, he declares, I’m going to work a little harder at it, probe a little deeper.
His friend and neighbor Eraserhead Man suggested keeping his mind focused and looking for something red. “That’s what Gus remarked about the subject when I asked him,” EM said to RDJ yesterday evening after riding down on his John Deere tractor for another visit. At the exact moment he mentioned this, RDJ was looking at a flaming red maple tree framed against the night sky across the island sands, but thought this was just chance.
Opp has been missing a month now from his side. Annie and Karl, after the former painted the latter as what was obviously some kind of representation or stand in for the blue lad, left Pencil’s place last week to assume residency on the other side of the island. That’s when (The Monster) showed up. That, in fact, is when Pencil tossed his coffee into the fire at his home to produce Gus for the first time. Gus seems bound and determined to find that (Monster). I wonder why?
RDJ decides to check out the small house beside the tree.
“Oh. Sorry neighbor! Didn’t know anyone was here.”
“T’is alright,” the large, bathing man with a red beard spoke through the opening. “I’m a nudist anyway. No shame in a person finding another person naked. Thus the open door!”
—–
Red beard, Robot Derak Jones thought later while relaxing with Eraserhead Man on the sandy beach in front of his home and staring toward the same house. “Gus said to look for something red, right?” he asked of his friend.
“Right. And to keep your mind focused. If you do both you’ll probably succeed. Seems to always work for me.”
And then he saw it again.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0406, New Island
After riding the Wild Whale and other attractions at Fishers Island Amusement Park, a daily routine, Blue Jay Wade realizes he was getting tired and started looking homeward again.
Toward the namesake jut of land and attached boathouse of his own creation. For the tiny island makes the house in this case, like a tail wagging a dog.
Fisher’s Isle. Name for the great explorer of Underground Second Lyfe, along with his riding companion Lord Bendington. Four trees and the truth, they always said. When will they return? It was suppose to be on that island. Or inside that isle… beneath, something.
He was falling asleep while standing. Better get back to the boathouse and his soft “crashy couch” asap.
—–
Ahhh. That’s better.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0405, New Island
“We haven’t seen Big Red since that day, Karl.”
“Yeah, last week.” Karl kept rocking and drinking. He could tell Annie was depressed. “Aww, baby doll, it’ll come around. This whole art thing.” Annie was weeping a little bit now. Karl sets down his 24 Oz Pabst Blue Ribbon on the porch railing and stands up. “Here, here, why don’t you try *me* again. Looky here, I’m already out of this shirt, hehe. The pants are next.”
“Just stop it Karl.” He knew Annie meant it. Silently, he slips his beer stained tank top back on. He understood when Annie was like this, jokes weren’t the way to go. Nor sex. Only this *art* could fill the void somehow. And it wasn’t happening yet.
A slow, rumbling noise starts in the distance. Thudding: giant, mechanical chicken legs crashing into the sand, but Annie and Karl didn’t know this part.
—–
Inside:
“As soon as we collect Gus, we’ll be ready to begin. But one of you 4 handed Librarians has to go.”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0404, New Island
“A move!” Magus Ellen exclaims upon teleporting into Iris and seeing his opponent’s Knight to King’s Bishop 4. “She’s just moving to move, but that’s okay.” He takes a thick lick. “This should be another easy one for me. Time for a castle.”
—–
“Holey moley Pencil. What is *that*?”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0316, Iris, New Island
“You sure you don’t want to borrow my flip flops, baby doll. It’ll be a lot better than those high heels you’re wearing.”
Annie continues to run on the treadmill set up at their new house just tonight. “I’m fine, Karl. I’m very experience with these kind of shoes. I feel comfortable in them.”
“Suit yourself.”
“You don’t know what it’s like to be a lady of the night,” she grouses. “You have to sacrifice things. Like foot shape. For a better or higher cause.”
“Whatever.” Karl rolls over on his side; wonders how much Annie paid for her jogging outfit. Probably a freebie. She’s cheap that way. Another type of cheap, then. He admires the view. “Hey, you know that beach out there we can see from this window — I think it might be a nudist beach.”
“Really?” Annie finds herself getting excited at the prospect. More potential models! Maybe if she gets away from Karl for a while she can regain her artistic touch. That blue boy, pheh.
“Yeah. A chub — considerably bigger than me even. I know you like chubs.”
“I like chubby *arms*. And you’ve got them sweetie pie.” She managed to turn and blow Karl a kiss while keeping on running. “So tell me about him. I assume it’s a him.”
“I don’t know — red beard. I think.”
“Was he completely naked or was he, you know, wearing something like a thong?”
“No. Stark raving naked.”
“Hmmm.” Annie was thinking she needs to be at this window looking out as much as possible. Or perhaps sitting on the porch in the rocking chair with the nice view of the beach in question. “Next time you see him or anyone else nude on that beach…”
“Yes?”
“You call me. You come find me.”
“Alright. You planning to ditch me for someone else? Someone not as *blue*?” But Karl was almost entirely joking. He knew their “together time” was so good that he was hers and she was his. No real mistaking on that. Annie knew this too; played along.
“Um, depends on what other goods they’re packing,” she smirked.
“Oh, you’re a *dirty* girl. A smutty, dirty girl. Get off that treadmill and come here.”
The flames rose once more.
—–
Afterwards, Karl sits at the computer checking the day’s sports scores while Annie sprawls out on the love seat, another freebie pickup. “Uh oh,” he then says, peering out through another transparent wall. “Look who’s back.”
“Where? Where??”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0310, New Island
“Ahh. A nice hot coffee before a nice hot fire. Doesn’t get any better than this in Our Second Lyfe, Robot Derak Jones. But take a seat.”
“I’m glad you found your hearing aid and stopped yelling, Pencil.” He remained standing. His hemorrhoids were acting up again.
“Me too! I mean: me too.”
“You are truly David now.”
“Well,” adds Eraserhead Man. “I’m a giant pencil pretending to be David Lynch for the purposes of this story. Novel 8 is it?”
“That’s right, EM.”
“Kids couldn’t stay around a while longer? I kind of miss them since they left, what was it, this afternoon?”
“It was a sudden departure,” agrees Robot Derak Jones in his metallic, echoed tone. “They found a house on the other side of the island. Baker Blinker had it in her inventory. That’s the core avatar for Karl.”
“I know who Baker Blinker is,” declares Eraserhead Man. He sips his coffee, then smacks his lips pleasingly. “I understand they found out that Karl is blue. Blue Rose Case, of course.”
“That’s why you’re here.”
—–
“Well… let’s see what *this* does.” Eraserhead Man abruptly throws the contents of his cup into the fire. Both watch as someone else forms in the room.
“Look at that, Robot. A demon. How about that? A flamey little fire demon. What’s your name, little fellow?”
“Gus,” came a small answer from the fireplace after a pause.
Eraserhead Man turned to his friend Robot Derak Jones. “Gus, he said, Robot.”
An erratic wind began to blow outside. One might say it was gussing if they had the guts.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0309, New Island
Sunklands 