Collagesity, mid July 2017
“Collagesity 2017 Early” novel done! You can catch all the action here (under the “Virtual” heading of the “Sunklands” blog):
https://bakerbloch.com/virtual/collagesity-2017-early/
There are 2 what I call preludes to the current novel, 4th in the Collagesity series so far. They are not essential for understanding what’s going on in the 6 proper sections of the novel, but make for interesting reads nonetheless, especially the second (Prelude 2 of 2) where a new character called The Musician investigates Art Oluja’s fabulous LEA11 creation, now officially ended. He carries directly over into the novel proper, where his story unfolds from beginning to end and then, for me, even loops back into the start again to initiate a higher octave of analysis (work in progress). I had a lot of fun writing all this, mainly in the middle of the night. But it made for some groggy mornings at times. 🙂
State of Collagesity at the end of the novel: It’s now shifted more toward the Rubi Forest, a more permanent status, I feel. Markland rental properties to the east given up. Baker Bloch and also Baker Blinker own everything now. The square meterage remains the same, however. I still have to sell a bit of property in the east before everything is completely stable.
Collagesity map for now.
Two official (kiosked) galleries now in the town: SoSo and Fal Mouth Moon. A third, Boos, can be reached via teleporter from either one.
In the recent shift of my land more toward the woods, I decided to sacrifice a couple of galleries and their inclusive collages, including the hugely high Power Tower Gowlery and also the Red Umbrella. This reduced the number of collages in Collagesity from around 270 down to about 200. I hated to do it, but I needed the prims for additional story telling adventures, including providing homes for two more new or new-ish characters named Pitch Darkly and Woody Woodmanson also found in “Collagesity 2017 Early.” They are both official residents of the town now.
Collagesity (2) and VHC City (many) kiosked galleries with “linking” Continental Diagonal.
Who else is in Collagesity currently, then (characters)? Baker Blinker and Karoz Blogger appear to have returned from their approx. 3 month stint in Chilbo, but we’ll see. They are not prominently featured in “Collagesity 2017 Early”. Baker Bloch, Wheeler Wilson, and Hucka Doobie basically continue their stories from the earlier novels. Wheeler has a new sidekick to hang around with: the aforementioned Musician, but I’m not sure about their status within Collagesity itself. Maybe their home is the Blue Feather? Another important new character is Mary Ball, also known as Chuckles Greentop. She appears to live with Pitch, but is currently away for a spell.
For “Collagesity 2017 Early” (C17E), action starts in VHC City, where it continues throughout the first half of the novel. Then we shift to the “extraterrestrial” Muff-Bermingham, partly set up in my Collagesity skybox but also employing the amazing Bliss Gardens run by Luna Bliss, which I’ve known about for a long time now. The number of sims in the Gardens has been reduced from olden days but the unique magic is still present. Waterfalls waterfalls waterfalls! I’ve had a lot of fun bumming around there and “filming.” In section 5, we return basically to the VHC City area and then in 6 head back to Collagesity to wrap things up. But Muff-Bermingham scenes pop up in the last 2 sections as well.
A word about the symmetry between “Collagesity 2016-2017 Winter” and “Collagesity 2017 Early”, or Collagesity novels 3 and 4. Both have 2 preludes. Both have 6 sections of approx. (or exactly, in the case of novel 4) 18 posts apiece. The first 5 of 6 sections of C1617W are set in Collagesity. *Only* part 6 of C17E takes place in Collagesity — inversion, then.
More on an analysis of C17E soon!
Just Walking Around 01
Both Woody Woodmanson’s…
…and Pitch Darkly’s houses are smushed up right against the Fal Mouth Moon gallery, and on opposite sides. Interesting contrast of black and white abodes as well. Another yin-yang relationship, but not in an antagonistic way. I feel that Pitch and Woody might become the best of friends. Two refuges.
Another small structure wedged in between the still empty Stairs gallery and the mysterious Castle Knight. No one lives here currently.
The empty Stairs.
Temple of TILE, still being worked on by Karoz presumably. Baker Blinker and Karoz Blogger were conspicuously absent from the “Collagesity 2017 Early” novel just completed. Will they stay in Collagesity, or will they head back to Chilbo? And will we fictionally follow them there and see what they’re up to? Questions for upcoming Collagesity novels, because for certain they’ll be at least one or two more of ’em.
Carrcassonnee is within the temple, but Baker Blinker has found her largely unresponsive to questions in that position. Wheeler Wilson stated recently that Big C will not re-assume leadership of the community, which seems to mean that the former wants to gain control again. But will the townspeople let her? At any rate, Collagesity turns over a new leaf.
Starry ceiling of Castle Knight. I suppose we can say The Millers live here. LINK
New town map located to the south of this castle.
Buster Damm’s home, still unoccupied. Or is it?
(to be continued)
Just Walking Around 02
Collagesity South or Collagesity Proper — haven’t decided exactly what to call it yet — remains largely unchanged from before.
House Orange, Spaced Ghost’s former residence and also the site of Furry Karl’s previous bar before he moved up to SoSo Mall, is still empty. Possibilities, then.
We have a new entrance point for the SoSo galleries: Central Tower. Makes more sense now. 80 of the 100 collages of the “Art 10×10” exist within, with the only series missing being Greenup, the earliest completed. Fabulous. I simply couldn’t delete any of this mall, the heart of Collagesity in many ways, when shifting the town more toward the west. Baker Blinker now owns part of the land it occupies. So attached to the SoSo Mall are Norum (an Art 10×10 wing); Bodega Market and Karoz’s upstairs apt., if he still lives here; SoSo South (Art 10×10 wing); Starbuccaneers coffee shop; SoSo North (Art 10×10 wing); Central Tower; and Furry Karl’s new bar, Joker’s Wild. 7 buildings directly attached to it, then.
There’s land to the immediate south of the mall that could be used for development, but not a lot.
Poppy Pond still exists. Mary might find it a proper fishing hole when she returns. If she returns. I think she will.
Beside it, “City Hall” remains empty.
Duplicate Carrcassonnee in the South Gazebo. Which is real? Both? Neither? No answer coming from Carrcassonnee herself. Either one.
Entrance to a sealed off portion of the village (complete with seal) featured in “Collagesity 2017 Early” LINK.
Within: VWX Secret Society. More stories here fer sure.
Perch, Gloomy Gus, Blue Feather, Darkly Manor, Fal Mouth Moon from the forest.
It’s good to be back. 🙂
Arrival
“Hello, anyone… here?”
“How can I help you?” Rocky said. He was writing his Great American Novel.
“Um, my wife… and I… (are) here for the carni-val,” replied Peter SoSo, looking down.
“2 rooms available,” spits out Rocky. “145 and 100 per week.”
Not knowing that there are cheaper rentals in other parts of town, Peter sighs and hands over L$100 to Rocky. “I’ll take… the latter.”
“Follow me.” The small mammal jumped down from the desk and scurried to the elevators in the back.
2 Worlds
“When he shows up, just remember to act surprised,” requests Tronesisia.
“I will.”
—–
Prissy wakes from her day dream. Bendy walks up.
“Hey babe, I’m looking for the kissing booth. And I think I’ve found it, haha.”
Fun Fun Towne
It was perhaps Peter’s favorite place to hang in the town. Tronesisia often listened in on his thoughts from her bench here. Nancy, eh? Nancy is what brought them to Lapara. The hotel room that cost L$100 per week held an unexpected portal. This was the way Tronesisia must proceed too.
Nancy.
Ratti
Wheeler Wilson was taking a break from playing pool with Buster Damm over in a Rodentia speakeasy when she got the call.
“Clown part, eh? L$100 a week, huh? I’m there dude.”
“What’s cook’n?” asks Buster after she hung up. In answer, she threw one of her rats and an attached chunk of cheese at him.
top to bottom
The search for Nancy goes through Bakers. So decrees Buster Damm, in an Olde Lapara Towne pool now but still playing. He’s hip to the Oracle. Too hip? Wheeler Wilson floats nearby, trying to decide what clown costume to wear at the first rehersal. Number 304 is an instant wowzer, she thinks. Yes, I’ll go with that.
—–
“I’m ready for my closeup, Mr. Magill,” he types. Stepping back, Rocky realizes he maybe just might have composed the final line to that GAN. Celebrations are in order!
Bible Truth
Rocky’s novel begins in the Magill House on The Hill, or the Magill Hill House or just the Magill House or Hill House. Yes, a woman named Lil lived there, who everyone knew as Nancy. Piggies were at bay in those times. Marshmallow men had yet to appear. Confetti always in the air. Parades galore. God Bless America.
Despite being prime real estate, the place is curiously empty these days. Just look at the view from the top porch!
Spectacular waterfalls can be seen tumbling down mountains towering above the town to the north, some of the highest peaks in Second Life I’ve been told. It’s a grand setting.
Yet within the house Buster Damm senses sorrow still. In the mid 20’s, a young lad named Daniel or Danny courted the tall, fetching Magill girl, the only child of Steve and Richard. Danny was shot 3 times and killed during a 1926 4th of July party at a local gay saloon owned by Nancy’s fathers. He managed to crawl to the dry-goods store next door to die at 1 minute past midnight on the 5th, a legal threshold. The shooter, Gideon “Spider” Murphy, former lover of Danny and leader of the notorious Purple Gang, was in turn, shot to death by Nancy while incarcerated at what was then the Lapara jailhouse, now designated as the primary landing point within Olde Lapara Towne itself. Completing the triangle of tragedy, Gideon was turned into the city’s first vampire the following week, with his original human victim being none other than our fair Nancy.
It goes without saying that Rocky’s novel has everything to do with this tragedy and then some. Including the fact that Buster Damm certainly isn’t a stranger to this town. He stares up at the place of the killing. Not the first or third but second.
His own.
next week again
Prissy didn’t think it was at all funny. Bendy had rented the rowhouse closest to her concession stand and started hanging around a lot. Stuck with his presence, she decided to focus on her day dreams during conversations. He was especially interested in the robot lady that frequently appeared in them.
“Dame sounds familiar,” he says while woofing down clams purchased from the cart next door. “Does she have a moral chip? Because I always wanted one of those things.” He was trying to figure out a way to ask Prissy to the opening of “Bible Truth” next week at the Grand Lapara Ballroom. But there was, of course, the whole *marriage* thing to Peter SoSo to consider, he lamented. And where was her dapper young mer-man today? he asked Prissy directly. She said he mentioned riding the town trains, seeing where they began and ended. The play doesn’t start until next week, she further explained. Bendy gulped. Peter SoSo is in the *play*?
“Those clams are not agreeing with me Prissy,” Bendy then said while looking down at squiggling, shelled hallucinations all around. “If you’ll excuse me.”
olde
Buster Damm dare not enter the Circle of Orange again for fear of imprisonment but Clare, I mean, Wheeler took the chance. She wanted to look at that Lapara book again in Saturnia Saturn. She disguised herself appropriately, which was of course no problem now since she remained at least 74 to 75 percent clown.
“Hmm, a red-green ball on the bench beside it, neither color fully manifesting.”
She tried to sit on one or the other, but poses were all screwed up. To the book…
Oh cool. She could just *buy* it for L$0. Done.
Back to the Lapara pool!
—–
“Let’s see,” she said while floating and turning. “You just wear it like a HUD.”
She summoned Buster to join her in the examination. She could share the book with anyone.
Mentioned within are the High Mountain Road, Lapara Airport, Lapara Tibetian Monestary, and then Olde Lapara Towne itself to close.
So Clare Nova didn’t build a town in Lapara, she just owned parcels here. Perhaps still does. “Looks like we have some exploring to do, Buster!”
“Can I change out of these wet clothes first?” he complains, wishing again they had enough money to buy a proper room.
olde 02
Wheeler and Buster then wandered over to the town’s new power station.
“Look, it’s one of those *real* old timey computers, Buster. And there’s Rocky’s novel again. Looks like he might be finished.”
“Is Nancy alive or dead at the end? Can you tell?”
“Who’s ‘G’, Buster?” Wheeler asked in turn.
carnies
“Come with me Wheeler Wilson,” commanded Peter SoSo, suddenly manifesting in Buster’s inner tube beside her.
“Why?” demanded Wheeler to the stranger. She remained calm and steady.
“Just do it. Do you know who I am?”
She looked him over. “My guess: just another carnie. Like that other merperson selling concessions outside of Baker Bloch’s new house in town.”
“That’s *not* Baker Bloch’s house.”
“Isn’t it? He told me it was.”
“Come with me,” Peter bid again.
—–
“Alright we’ve visited the marketplace and gotten the stuff you wished me to have. What next, Mein Ringmaster?”
“We transform you. Just as I have been transformed. That way we can walk and talk as a couple. We are a couple, no?”
Wheeler was confused at this turn of events. “I… don’t know.”
—-
“*Are* we a couple?”
“Yes,” she stated firmly.
rooms
Tronesisia enters the room. Good that Baker got rid of the clown watchguard outside, she thinks. 12 prims! He thought it was 3 or 4. Only 1 until 40 — (allotted) prims maxxed out. He certainly didn’t want to insult the new landlord right off, the new Ringmaster. One of ’em.
—–
“Empty,” she uttered.
“Yes,” Bendy declared after checking it out. “An empty room; nothing within. You must have heard the wind, baby. But not from me, hehe.”
“No,” clarified Prissy. “This picture. This empty picture.” She kept studying the slight bit of orange hair at the bottom. “I’m remembering something.”
“We better get you home,” relented Bendy, starting to really worry about the mergirl’s recent ramblings. Attempts at smooching will have to wait.
rooms 02
“All right baby doll. Tell me which room is yours.”
There was an awkward pause. “I… I can’t remember!”
Prissy’s reality was then chosen for her. Peter SoSo opened the door to the right. “Dear, is that… you?”
“Oh. Hello… Bendy. It’s, um, been… a while.”
“It’s been a girlfriend and a lifetime ago,” the robot replied tensely.
He looked for a sign from his wife. “Invite him in Peter,” she said. “We need to talk about things.”
“Well, yeah, er… I suppose we do need… to… do that.”
“A *lifetime*,” Bendy reinforced to Peter’s face while walking through the open door.
Nancy and Bettie
“Weird how my name is Nancy, and I’m playing a girl named Nancy in the play.”
“Not at all odd,” responds the purple haired Bettie sitting in the opposite seat of their posh Lapara Hotel room — the 145 dollars a week one, not the 100. “Fate, we must call it. Like ‘The Shining’ (movie). Jack Nicholson played Jack from (Stephen King’s) book. Daniel played little Danny. Just like your own Danny. We must think of these things.”
“But why would Nancy shoot Gideon if he’s already caught and jailed? What’s my motivation for playing this obviously psychotic woman?”
“I understand it completely,” Bettie says. “Passion rules over all. Nancy’s love of her life had been robbed. So she robbed the robber of his life in turn.”
“But then her *own* life was robbed by the robber after he became… a vampire? Is that really believable?”
“The story has it that this is true,” replies Bettie. “Why don’t you study the script more and take notes.”
Nancy doesn’t even give a glance at the “Bible Truth” script leaning against the chair arm beside her. “Oh I’ve looked at that again and again. I’ve memorized everything by now. Might as well throw it out of this high window for all it’s worth.”
“Well,” joked Bettie. “As your *understudy*, haha, you could just abdicate the role. Let me take over. I could have poisoned your drink there, let’s say. You know how bad I wanted the part.” She smiled.
“Not a bad idea, Bettie,” Nancy said, absorbing the inside joke. “But I’m Nancy let’s face it. Nancy plays Nancy. And you, as Bettie, will play Bettie, who is the understudy to Nancy in the play as well.”
“In the play within the play.”
“The vampires,” complained Nancy further. “Why are they called vam*pures* in ‘Bible Truth’?”
But Bettie was distracted by the noise outside the window. “Oh Lordy, here we go.” She pointed down. “Evangelicals. Looks like you’re not the only one who doesn’t cater to the idea of mortals rising from the dead.”
corners
Peter SoSo and Prissy have a *ghost* in their bathroom, Bendy pondered when returning to his rowhouse from the hotel. No, not a ghost, an interdimensional being of some sort. A Nancy that is all Nancy’s. All Nancy’s. What does it mean?
Tronesisia, listening in unseen from the other side of the room, knew the answer.
Sissy not Prissy, she thought over and over. Sissy not Prissy, Sissy not Prissy, Sissy not Prissy…
“Je-sus is real! Vam-pires are myth!”
Wheeler and Buster Damm were walking north through Olde Lapara Towne, aiming to check out the teahouse in that direction owned by the real Clare Nova, when suddenly chanting protesters came around the back corner of the Grand Lapara Hotel, startling them. “Look straight ahead,” Buster urged, gauging the situation. “Don’t make eye contact or you’ll be absorbed.” But they were on a direct collision course. Wheeler and Buster had to pretend to become one with the hive mine.
Super good thing for them that they didn’t know who Buster *really* was.
The long and short of it.
He spotted her between 2 groups of silhouetted protesters. She didn’t appear to him like she did to other people, like to her best friend and co-worker Nancy, for instance. He saw her for who she really was. A being as dead as himself. Perhaps moreso.
Breaking off her glare, Bettie turns to Nancy, hidden by a rusty pipe from his angle. “We better get you back inside before things get nasty down here.”
big >little
All it took was a handshake between two beings of reversed electrical charges. Ka-BLOO-Y. There goes the whole southeast quadrant of Olde Lapara Town. Luckily, All Nancy’s from the Grand Lapara Hotel bathroom was on the scene almost instantly, reversing the blast with her powerful reversing powers.
In the end, all that out-of-control fission energy was just reduced and condensed into a small, mushroom shaped house thanks to our local ghostly entity. Little Tonshi Ashokan steps out the front door, wondering about her atomic dream. Was it a dream? Seems so.
repeatoverse
“Isn’t it adorable Nancy? Why keep renting at that expensive hotel when we — I mean I — can have a place of my own. Want to take a look inside?”
“Maybe later Bettie,” replies Nancy. “I have a date!”
“With whom?” Bettie could hardly conceal the venom.
“Danny, that’s who. Daniel. The guy in the play.”
“I know who Danny is. What do you expect to happen?”
“I don’t know,” states a puzzled Nancy, wondering about Bettie’s concern. “The usual. Dinner, dancing, maybe a couple of drinks mixed in. Then…”
“Then *what*?”
“I don’t know. He’s *cute.*” Nancy smiles and tries to nudge Bettie in the ribs. Bettie skillfully avoids the jab.
“This is not good. Remember the curse attached to that book, that play? You must always keep that foremost in your mind. The play’s the thing. Any extracurricular activity connected with it could spell trouble. Look at the protesters. This towne is like a ticking bomb.”
“Ridiculous,” responds Nancy. “It’s just a harmless date.”
But Bettie was right. The events of the play were repeating in real life, just reversed or inverted from before. Concealed in a way. The pattern remains, though. Now Bettie doesn’t have a gun but she has other weapons at her disposal. Poison, just like with the joke back at the hotel. Because, deep down in the depths of her soul, she was only half joking anyway.
Abode
“Oh look Bettie. There’s Rocky. The guy who wrote the book.”
“But not the play,” added Bettie.
“Hi Rocky!” Nancy waves.
“It just appeared out of thin air,” he chanted to them from his stump seat. He kept looking up all googly eyed at the house, a smile upon his face as broad as Clownski Avenue. “Not 6 feet in front of me. I always wanted a house. God has rewarded my grand accomplishment.”
Nancy turned to Bettie, who just shrugged. “He’s the one who’s responsible for us being here,” she said. “Maybe he’s right.”
Bettie sighed. “Okay, we’ll remain in the hotel together. But I want you home at quarter past 8 at the latest tonight.”
Rocky saved the day yet again. As soon as the shock wore off, he was packing up his stuff in the hotel’s crawlspace. Rocky would go on to write many more novels after “Bible Truth” while based in the mushroom house, some better some worse. But none that came close to being as controversial. Or as cursed. Rocky’s path was set from this point on. Trajectory.
Sunklands 