Floor 2’s Collage 06, a 2-part animation (upper left), is from the past again, like Collage 01 directly below it on Floor 1 of Castle Jack. Collage 07 beside Collage 06, another 2-fer-1 animation, is brand new. In common with Collage 02 beneath it, in turn, Collage 07 is set in the Blue Feather. A blue feather appears on each. Collage 06 and Collage 07 both depict multiple versions of Dr. Blood/Tin S. Man. More analysis soon enough.
Collage 07:
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0003, 0102, collages 2d, Heterocera, Rubi^
A man only wishing to be known as The Librarian came to visit the Blue Feather yesterday. Baker and Wilson have decided, for now, they’re not going to worry about who’s sitting at The Table at any one time. So we’ll say it’s Baker here. The Librarian bought quite a number of books with him in his traveling van…
… with only 1 in Baker’s discard pile when I took the top picture of the sale (“Salvador Dali: Go to Mars!”). Curled Paper was especially pleased to find a signed copy of “Floydodo”.
Dr. Blood, who was giant at least for the day, brought in a huge stump to sit on — too big for The Table, you see. Permanent size change? To be determined. “Remember Oz,” is about all the suggestions he chipped in, to which Baker replied that the town library was already well stocked with Oz books, including the complete run of Baum and Thompson. “More,” he added in his bass voice, then became silent for quite some time after Baker didn’t reply.
A framed picture Dr. Blood also brought to the meeting.
When it came down to how much money The Librarian wanted for the good number of books Baker Bloch wished to purchase, he said he didn’t want any. Taken aback, Baker asked him what he meant. “What I *want* in return,” he said, pausing dramatically before completing his sentence, “is to sit here. With you guys.”
The eighth? Is this Martian Chesterton again in disguise?
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0003, 0101, Heterocera, Rubi^
Karoz received a surprise tonight. Arriving at the Blue Feather for his weekly beating…
… he was instead led around the top floor’s fighting ring (Squared Circle) by Wheeler…
…and down to the intermediate level with The Table.
They paused here at the stairs. “Up. Up up up you go, Karoz. This is your place now. With me, at The Table.”
“Well, get out of my way,” Karoz demanded playfully. “If I’m going to go up with you and all.”
“You lead,” said Wheeler in turn. [delete 1 sentence]
“Sit there,” she continued after reaching The Table. “Beside Curled Paper. Directly opposite me. This is your place,” she repeated.
“Nice,” said Karoz. They sit.
“So I think I have everybody now. Curled Paper will be the meeting note taker. Dr. Blood can sit beside me over here. Same with Spongeberg. Then Lemon Bar Jack… did I tell you about Lemon Bar?”
“No,” Karoz responded.
“Well… later. Lemon Bar will sit… actually I’ll let him sit next to me instead of either Spongeberg or Dr. Blood. And then we have… well, I’m counting and I think that’s it. So we actually have room for 2 more.”
“Cool,” says Karoz. “Page? Plant? Zappa?”
“Elton John?” Wheeler continued in the same vein. “McCartney? David Lynch? Jack Nicholson? The list goes on.”
“Who am I?” asks Karoz. But he knew the answer as soon as he voiced the question.
“You’ve always been SoSo,” reinforces a knowing Wheeler. “Ever since you became Aqua Teen beyond precious Aquamarine. The Lindens came and took away your mother to the Lapis and the Lazuli. Split; schizophrenic. Sapphire was no more. You met Peter. You *are* Peter. Peter SoSo. You’ve always been Peter.”
Karoz takes another sip of wine. Refreshing.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0002, Heterocera, Mars^^, Rubi^
“I fear it’s this place, Baker Bloch. Once you block things off and separate private from public, the collage elements start showing up.” She returns her attention to Curled Paper. “So your brother isn’t dead after all.”
“No mum,” came his reply.
“And what we just experienced was more hallucination than reality.”
“Careful with that type of language,” Baker advised again to Wheeler. “We’re *trying* to invoke halluciations. It’s the whole Bogota series we’re attempting to start up. You’re certainly a part of it, Wheeler. What with your David Bowie appearance and regalia. *Are* you David Bowie? Again??”
“I think so,” she replied. “Yes, I know so. I am David and David am I. But what of the darting hummingbird? My Hummie. It’s the work of Carrcasonnee. She’s attempting to dart me?”
“We could go to the Boos gallery and do some studying,” Baker offers.
“Do you think that would help?” Wheeler asks. “Well, okay. I wanted to walk around the town anyway. Review the changes for me as we stroll. Curled, hold down the fort. Do *not* let your brother in here again. And don’t dismember him again like you did before. You two are sickies.”
“Are we?” asked Curled Paper innocently.
“Yes,” she replied firmly. “Baker, are you ready? Is it colder out there? I’ll take my shawl if so.”
“I don’t think so, Wheeler,” Baker Bloch responded.
“I don’t want to freeze my ass off,” she says, getting up. “Apparently no one in town would like that.”
“We want to make you comfortable here for sure,” Baker said to Wheeler.
“Yup. That’s why I’m so powerful. Unblock the door.”
—–
Baker didn’t realize how close Boos was to Perch. Just a hop down and a couple more steps and you’re in.
Will this help? We’ll see.
—–
“So where do we start in all this collage of confusion, Baker Bloch? I know it has some order. I’ve read the interpretation now. I know several relate to Second Life. See? There’s Collagesity, or at least the sky tunnels.” She points to Boos 05 ahead of her, titled “Simpsons Road Bloch”. “There’s not one but two Wheelers in that one, Baker Bloch. Explain. What’s with the Missouri Wheeler?”
“I think it’s you. You were there… in Missouri. Except it was just more collage.”
“Was it?” She studies not the Wheeler on the road but the Wheeler just off the road, more hidden but still obviously a brother to the one on the road.
“This is the two sides of me, public and private. Working theory. The public is on the road and visible to all. The triangle of Simpsons, like a rack of pool balls, act as a block. The private Wheeler stands beside the road. Already veered off the road. There is dialog going on between public and private. They are aware of each other’s presence.”
“See? I told you this would help,” a reaffirming Baker says. “Two sides of you, yes. One on the road, one off. Blocked and unblocked. But are you Lisa (Simpson) as well?”
“Let’s just move around the gallery and see,” she replies.
—–
“Ahh, Davy Jones. *Davy Jones*. The bastard. That should’ve been me.”
“Are you not happy now with the Bowie name? It seems fate. Like your eyes.”
“Yes, my eyes as well. My name, my eyes. But what are he and Frank Zappa up to in this work, Baker Bloch? Spool tables? Army men? Peeping Bobs?”
“I think it spoke more of the Bigfoot art happening at the time,” Baker says. “And Head Trip. That’s one of yours now. The negative carrcass. Negative 7, I believe.”
“Yes, we’ll get to all those negative carrcasses in due time. Decide who of those old wankers we invite to the table. Obviously not Davy Jones. *That* Davy Jones. But maybe Zappa still. But that’s for a little later on. Let’s proceed since you don’t have any firm answers about that one.”
—–
“A Wheeler again. Traveling around a wheel. I think. Is this me going ’round in circles? Front and back and side and side? Revolving around and around? I think it could be.”
“Yes,” Baker responds. “And maybe why Davy Jones seems to spin the spool table in the former collage.
—–
“You need to get your finger looked at. I saw you attempt to shoot that (humming)bird a bird. You can’t hide collage from me. Not in my blue palace.”
“Well, why don’t we just back up one more collage, then,” responds Baker, “because Baker Bloch’s hand is hidden in that one. My father was asking about that one as well recently. Last month, I believe.”
“First of last month, yes,” Wheeler answers with more detail.
“He asked me why I was holding that meteor. But I’m not holding it. It just appears so from the perspective. Actually its plummeting from the sky, aimed directly for Fitz the Mouse’s head. He looks up in terror. But it doesn’t kill him, despite replacing his head for a time.”
“That silly 12 Oz Mouse of Carrcassonnee’s,” Wheeler says. “Not solid entertainment like those in The Bill. Zappa knows.”
“Okay. Then there’s The Martian to close out this floor. Boos 10. The one that blocked my father from seeing…”
“Me?” Wheeler suggests.
—–
“You know,” says Wheeler, back in the Table Room,” Karoz didn’t really go to Mars. Oh he brought back pictures, true, and he did go somewhere. But not apart from Second Life. One dead giveaway is the two Saturns in the sky. Two Saturns! Did that not arouse his suspicions?? But, anyway, it turns out one of the two is actually real and that’s the direction we need to take. We need to use that real Saturn’s gravity as a sling shot to deeper space and get to Muff-Bermingham. We can do it without the eye. But the trip will be risky. That’s why we’re sending redshirts.”
Baker looks over to Curled Paper, understanding why he’s here now.
“And the brother,” Wheeler adds, seeing what Baker is seeing.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0002, collages 2d, Heterocera, Rubi^
“You and I are the important ones to talk together. Please. Sit opposite me. Tell me what’s happening in Collagesity. Of course I can see some of it from my blue palace here. But tell me more. What’s over those green, green hills? How much power can I grant Carrcassonnee and not expect it to backfire on me? How do I *govern*? Advise please, Baker Bloch.”
“Why don’t you tell me what you know and then I’ll attempt to fill in the gaps. Attempt, I said there. We’re just starting this up.”
“Good advise already. We obviously must separate restricted and unrestricted. Restricted is my blue palace here. Done.” She makes a check gesture on the table in front of her. “Dammit, Curled, where’s my notebook. I requested a notebook.”
“Sorry mum,” says the giant light bulb topped Curled Paper to her side, not putting down his book. “I’ll run up to the Bodega market.”
“No, no, you just keep sitting there and reading, I suppose. I want to see more of the town changes anyway so I’ll go up there after our meeting.” She composes herself; shoulders relaxed. “So… that’s building the wall, as Carrcassonnee recommended before her untimely, um, shrinking.”
“I would agree you must make a private and a public appearance,” Baker responds.
“You’re several lines behind, Baker Bloch. Please keep up.” She stands. “*Now*. Let me just go over to my chart…”
“Curled Paper! No chart either? I asked this room to be prepared for my meeting with Baker Bloch. A very important meeting I might add, because this is the beginning. I gave you a list. Not a long list. We need to shape up…” She didn’t add the “ship out” part to this, attempting to curtail her anger at least a little. No one likes a total despot. Or a total bitch, she then thinks.
“And what’s this trash bag.”
“I was attempting to tidy up the room a bit,” replies Curled. “All the construction mess, you know. I guess I forgot about my list in the confusion. It won’t happen again mum.” But he still didn’t put down his book.
“It smells weird,” Wheeler says. She unties the bag and peers inside, reeling back from the escaping odor. “My God Curled Paper. Is that your… brother??”
—–
15 minutes later, Wheeler was still sitting silent in her chair, pondering what just transpired. Curled Paper then returned to the table after properly disposing of the trash bag and its contents. She didn’t talk to him. She stared at Baker Bloch, finger to mouth. Finally, she was able to let it pass and restarted the conversation with Baker. “So about this… DAMMMIT!” Hummie the hummingbird had flown in from the open door to Perch, droningly introducing itself as it darted from corner to corner. Baker got up and attempted to shoo it back out into Perch.
Success. Baker sits down again. Were they ever going to get to the important stuff this evening? he thinks. He watches as Wheeler rolls her eyes. Curled Paper has picked back up his book and started reading again, but with the title subtly changed. Baker decides to break the ice.
“Winesap,” he says, indicating Curled Paper. “It looms large.” Just like his brother use to, Baker realizes. Another block.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0002, Heterocera, Rubi^
Carr.:
Give me a report, Baker Bloch. What is it?
BB:
Everything is actually more than I expected. The latest development is the Blue Feather, the feather in the cap perhaps.
Carr.:
How is that going?
BB:
Certainly it is centered by an interesting triangle. I’m not sure it’s a triangle with a topping eye, as Karoz supposed recently to you. LINK
Carr.:
That would be Wheeler. Wheeler leads now.
BB:
I guess so. You’re okay with that?
—–
“Then he just mentioned that wall again and told me to talk to you instead. Said you were a better person to chat with about all this.”
“It’s a she, once more,” says Furry Karl once more. “Carrcassonneee — she.”
“Of course,” returns Baker Bloch.
“And the last time I talked to you and Baker Blinker, the 2 Bakers, you were turning all blue and lightning-y. What gives?”
“We decided to go somewhere. Talk to someone. Someone else. Not of this town.”
“Well, Baker Bloch, I’m all ears.”
[Baker’s reply blocked]
Furry Karl looked very surprised. “How are *those* mofos?”
“I have an idea,” interrupted Curled Paper in a crisp, slightly rattly voice, still sitting at the end of the bar and reading his Winesap book with the twinned Swifts within. “It’s a bright one.”
After a pause where no one says anything, Baker Bloch whispers to Karl behind his hand: “Is he a fixture here now, Karl?”
“I don’t think he has anywhere else to go,” came Furry Karl’s less whispered reply. “And then there’s the other one: Little Climbing Light. He’s worst than the first one, to quote Oz again.” Then they both realized how impolite they were in continuing to not answer Curled Paper’s question. Baker Bloch turns toward him. Or her.
“Of course you can give us — share with us your idea, Curled Paper. It is Curled Paper, right?”
“Correct. Mr. Paper to some. I’m from Nautilus as well, as is my brother LCL. You imply that he’s the more evil one — I overheard; I know Oz — but we are not evil. Just misplaced. We do not belong here. We are wishing also (like Wheeler?) to return to Nautilus. The northern part. The place of not Oz but Mars.”
“Interesting,” states Baker Bloch. “What do you think of the lower part? Do you call that (in part) Austra as well?”
“The whole continent is Austra,” came Curled Paper’s reply. “At least it use to be. The place of lemony goodness. There we were respected and honored as a unique species of avatars. Here (in the land of Lindens) we are just shunned. Here it is white male or white female. Correct proportions, but curiously with large rumps for the female species usually. And larger chests and breasts (for both). I know of the real world counterparts. What gives on that, Baker Bloch and Furry Karl? Enlighten me on that. And, yes, I’ll get to my idea in a moment. It’s a good one. It will lighten up your lives as well.”
Furry Karl gives his slant on the subject. “This is not the real world, Curled — can I call you just Curled?”
“That is fine.”
“So, Curled, let me explain to you something, and I’m tapping into my flattie culture for this one. Down here — in Lala-land; that’s Second Lyfe to you and me — things get a bit mixed up at times. The women think they need to look one way when the men don’t think so. Same for the men with the women. All’s we have to do is *stray* from the so-called normal — here — to get the correct focus and perspective. That’s from the perspective of us flatties. The 3d-ers have it wrong (in terms of general “normal”). There’s not enough diversity. That’s why you and your kind are certainly welcome in Collagesity, and I’m sure Baker Bloch would agree.”
“Most definitely,” Baker Bloch assures Curled Paper. He speaks to Karl: “Buy my new friend a drink for me. Let’s make certain he’s welcome here from now on. He’s not a joke or novelty avatar. He’s just who he is. Look at Karoz, for Christ’s sake. Remember when those witches gypsies over at The Moon of Maebaleia tried to get him a makeover, Karl? That was frigg’n 7 years ago (!). So I would add to Karl’s response, Curled, and say to you that you are *born* here with certain attributes, and that is your legacy, your heritage. Cherish it. Don’t be afraid to change who you are, but make sure the thing you change into is still the you from birth. The soul does not change.”
“Well put, Baker Bloch. Here’s your beer Curled Paper. You can drink free the rest of the week, matter of fact. And get your brother in on the deal as well.”
“He only stands,” says Curled Paper. “He can’t get in because of the door. You sank the bar too low.”
“So *that’s* what that was all about,” exclaims Furry Karl, looking toward the bar’s orange entrance. “You’re not witches atall!”
“Maybe it’s time to move that bookcase out of the way now, Karl,” a standing Baker offers, looking toward same. We have enough blocks in town as is, he then thinks.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, Heterocera, Rubi^
“Where’d the bookshelf come from, Furry Karl?”
“Like you don’t know,” Karl responded, off script again and improvising/reacting. He checks something under the bar, then. “Ahem, getting back on script — says here that it will be used to block the portal. You see that Climbing Light trying to get in? Well, there’s more where he comes from.” He’s now saying/reading all this rather robotically, by the way, attempting to improvise sarcasm, which is also not indicated in the script.
“Hmmm,” says Baker Bloch. “I didn’t even see that thing when entering the bar. How ’bout you Blinks?”
“Me neither,” Baker Blinker lies.
“Ne meither,” Little Climbing Light’s brother<sister Curled Papers also lies from the other end of the bar. His light is now on. He's alive. Baker Bloch cannot turn toward Curled Paper to his side and Baker Blinker has to do it for him.
“You see,” says Karl without sarcasm now. “Backwards. It’s all backwards Baker Bloch. And Baker Blinker. The whole town has turned around into itself. Like a broken bottle, er, record, er…”
“Mobius strip,” adds Baker Blinker, trying to seem smart. She *is* very smart, but she doesn’t feel like she appears so sometimes. It’s the whole wrestling confederation scenario and its more physical nature. She wants to trump up the brains aspect of it all. She wishes to exercise the grey matter. She might even wish to become grey.
“I’m thinking of changing my color, Baker Bloch,” she pipes up. “I’m going to figure out what Karl is talking about. I’m going to become grey.”
“Okay,” he says. “Do you want me to change with you?”
—–
5 minutes later.
“Well,” says Karl between them now. “Are you going to answer her?”
“What’s happening to you guys?”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0002, Heterocera, Rubi^
“I mean it’s silly,” Karl says. “How can Starbuccarina and Space Ghost get married? He’s old as the hills; she’s young and also *not* really alive. She died, along with Rhoda. 3-n-1. Remember the plane crash?”
“I remember the plane clash, when 2 flattie realities started interfering with each other.” Baker shuffles some papers on his lap. “Was that your line, Karl? I’m lost again.”
“LOST, that was it. The show that began with a plane clash.”
“Crash.”
“Right.”
“Snow?” Curled Paper then asks out of the blue. “Did you say snow? Snow Crash? I know that book.”
—–
“It was like Fleep said. Just virgin Linden forest for, really, miles and miles. Chilbo chopped a path through the wilderness. All the way to Norum. And when they got to Norum they discovered the reality before *their* reality. Queen Sapphire and all. And Karoz. Karoz is starting to remember how it was, then. [At last] he’s becoming [rebellious] Aqua Teen beyond Sapphire’s precious Aquamarine. Put him on top of that green, green hill. Start him there. Or her. Remember how it *was*.”
“Thank you Carrcassonnee.”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0002, Heterocera, Rubi^
“You mean ‘she’, there. Carrcassonnee is a she. Surely you know that[ by now].”
“Yes — she.” Baker Bloch wonders about the mistake.
“Speaking of he and she, have you seen Karoz lately?” Furry Karl asks. “A sight to behold. He’s wearing *eye* makeup. And a ring — an earring. And his skin has changed. He’s not as… mossy as before.”
“I can’t wait,” responds Baker.
“It’s like you said. He’s trying to keep up. Baker Blinker wears makeup, he wears makeup. Baker Blinker wears earrings… so on.” Karl waves his free hand. “But he actually looks pretty good, really. It’s working. The Assimilation in full swing.”
“I came in here through the back way, Karl.” Baker says, suddenly remembering the important thing he wanted to tell Furry Karl. “I wasn’t thinking; I was in a hurry to get over here. I hope that doesn’t screw up reality like before.”
“Shouldn’t,” Karl replies. “Now that Starbuccarina and Space Ghost are married. They went off to Jorondip, just like Baker Blinker and Karoz before them.”
“Hmm. Well I hate to tell you this Karl, but Starbuccarina is right back there in the portal corridor. Like she was before. She hasn’t gone anywhere. And she’s still phantom, like a ghost. I passed right through her on the way to the bar. Which means…”
“Which *means*,” Karl continues for Baker, “that we’re also back in time. Before the transformation. Something has been reset.” Sweat beads begin to form on his forehead. He stares at the cuckoo clock on the wall. Baker joins him.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0002, Heterocera, Rubi^
Sunklands 