Alice 01 patiently explains to Alice 02 that the 3rd is actually the 4th.
But let’s back up a bit…
thankfully
Axis certainly gets around. Here’s he’s on an island in the northeast part of Heterocera (Eggar sim). It’s hot down here at the beach, and he pulls off his duster coat and carefully lays it by the shoreline. He must get back to the art store soon. Too bad he can’t wear those paint splattered paints they sell for free within…. merely a mesh figure he is. But perhaps they’ll fit burgeoning artist Annie to the T.
Or Bill.
Or Mabel.
One way to find out…
—–
“Aren’t they just the dreamiest, Turch?! Now when Baker Bloch reopens the Red Umbrella we’ll be back in business. Buurb should be here soon.”
“Sure,” reassures Turch, because he knows Mabel can’t take another loss like her brother Little. But probably she won’t have to. Most likely, yes.
—–
“I can’t do this Precious; put your wings back on. I have to find Mabel.”
“I… understand.”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0502, Heartsdale+, Heterocera, Rubi
Next Post
Bay door open at the service station with bait taken, Wheeler has finished her exercise routine and is fit and ready for action. Philip makes sure of that.
Akking here we come again!
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0501, Pond District
last piece
When to move you first, my Queen? Rey Wisa ponders from far below.
—–
“How about… *now*.”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0418, Iris, Nascera
net worth
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
rat mobile
Mr. Matrix has found a nice piece of land in the Pond District from which to establish a base for his operations there, but he can’t decide on a house. Oh the vanity.
A weird thought then crossed his mind as he stared into the mirror. Maybe *he’s* the rat.
Anyway, he better get back to his deliveries.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0416, Pond District
Little Heaven
Philip Strevor wasn’t available, so Mr. Matrix took his spot at the Watching Booth. He was staking out the place of a guy known as The Rabbit, but The Boss correctly assumed he was just a rat in disguise. Now to dangle the carrot, er, cheese.
Whenever she’s fit and ready.
Sure the giant carrot was pointed directly at his hideout, but The Rabbit was no longer there. Or had he not moved in yet?
Directly behind his past/future hideout lived Lucas Smart, hatch open to his own home. He’d hoped someone would find him down there all sideways before now. Vertical and horizontal had become all smushed up. And the water could be rising once more!
dramatization
Lemmings existed in the area. Here’s one sunbathing at Bowers Beach.
And here’s another at the same beach raiding a treasure chest of gold bricks and coins. Could this be why The Rabbit is in the area? Treasure, buried or exposed?
There use to be a village of tiny gummy people across the lake from the beach, but they seemed to have moved away in the last 5 years or so, probably because of the variant water levels. Their main street was aligned with the Rodentia Underground entrance seen in the distance here.
But it was not just a town (New Gummton). There was a tiny forest beside a tiny lake with a tiny pier. A whole microcosm for the miniature inhabitants to exist within. They needed no “outside”. I wonder what happened to them?
Back in Rodentia proper, the bait had been set. “Sure hope this work,” Mr. Matrix thinks, checking his daily sports scores.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0415, Pond District
In the Pond District today:
Axis found a black and white girl slumped against a Rodentia dumpster but did not know who she was. She didn’t open her eyes.
Tealie woke Jiff up in a bad mood, who did not wish to play right this minute.
So she instead goes to visit the grave of her old friend Matthew Lodenwald. What a blow to the community when he died!
Bob Richards continues to reads scrapbooks of the war and laments how he will never see his beloved Alpha again. Oh dear, looks like Li’l Bob’s jumped out of his crib.
Uncle Doomed drinks Jack Daniels in front of the neighbor’s Blob until passing out.
Lucas Smart tries to figure out how his life went so wrong.
Chris Caveman lumbers out of the Rodentia Underground, worse off from the experience.
In the local arcade, punk band Story Room prepares to play Cruise Control with newbie Grassy Noll, snickering about whether he’ll even make it out of the first turn.
Also in the arcade, Bill (Wheeler) confers with Rocky Racco about her most recent name change and move to Iris. “Heterocera is still at the fore of my research,” she reassures the learned writer. “I haven’t forgotten about Olde Lapara Towne, Collagesity, VHC City, or any of the rest.”
“Good, Wheeler.” He scratches his nose with his free paw. “Did you know that my cousin Tealie now lives in this area?”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0414, Bogota, collages 2d, Heterocera, Pond District, Silverton
Mobile?
“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
crossroads
Yes, this will do nicely, Ellen thinks. I’ll send Sidechick Corea and his Boy Blue over to explore more.
—–
“So you see Campbell O’Pine — I mean, *Opp*, Magus Ellen states this is as close as we can get to center in Nascera right now. What do you see?”
“I see… blues.”
“Are you ready, then? Remember to change over.”
“I will.”
—–
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0008, 0412, Braynard's Place-, Nascera
Sunklands 