Legends of Avantris - Stardust Rhapsody: Anthem | Ep. 8 | Paradise City: Part 1

Episode Date: February 13, 2026

Our heroes go undercover...   You do NOT need to listen to Overture to enjoy Anthem! If you have the appetite to listen to both, we recommend starting with Anthem, then going back to listen to Overture!   Gain access to an exclusive campaign, Shroud Over Saltmarsh, over on Patreon: https://legendsofavantris.com/patreon The Crooked Moon, a folk horror supplement for 5e, is available for preorder! Get the Crooked Moon at: https://thecrookedmoon.com/ Watch more D&D adventures in the world of Avantris live on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/legendsofavantris Check out our merch store: https://shop.legendsofavantris.com  Join our community on Discord: https://legendsofavantris.com/discord Watch our many campaigns on YouTube: https://legendsofavantris.com/youtube  All other links: https://linktr.ee/legendsofavantris   Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/T0JYc4sUzmU?si=Y2Hnmyn55iUEP1rH

Welcome to Legends of Adventress. I'm Mace Caffrey and you're listening to Star Dusts Rhapsody Anthem. Last time on SDR Anthem. The party now joined by Coe was able to track down Big Thunder, or as Coe knew him, Sagio. Executing a ruse to get close to him, Rhett, Pike, and Ziggy take her in in handcuffs, while Ziggy slips away to hack the security systems. Taking control, he signals Foreman Correll of the Keogian Energy Company to start their attack. As the chaos breaks out, the team takes to the streets, led by the roaring ferocity of Coe's newly repaired motorcycle, they give chase.

After a heated chase, Big Thunder crashes into the tanker of Red Line. In the middle of a blackout, he arises from the wreckage, lit only by the red flames at his back. He injects a form of red line and takes the fight to the party. After a brutal street brawl, the party finally brings him down, but Coe isn't finished. Pending his one remaining arm against the twisted metal of his wreck, the cracking of bones rings through the night as he gives the first bit of information toward their next bounty. Grobulous J. Weedelbach runs the Glitz Room on Cherix.

and that's where he gets his shipments of Redline. Now you know where the next rung in the ladder is, but first to take care of Big Thunder. The familiar thrum of the Rhapsody cuts through space as we join the crew in the Rhapsody's lounge. Yeah! The crackle of the television left on to no real station stands mixed with tunes as the background,

tunes from the jukebox as the background noise to your current celebration. You all sit around the table in the lounge as Coe holds up her brand new bounty hunter's license. Yes. A shiny new license contrasting the bloody bruised knuckles barely starting to heal. You cheers to one more official bounty hunter

joining the team. Wow, I can't believe that they'd spell my name right. I was just about to ask. Wait, they really spell yours wrong. Look, look, look. Some Ziggy Moog on it. Oh, here's the problem. It's set to Moog.

You gotta set it to Woo. And I take the M and I flip it up. Like, yeah, it's fine. Thanks. All right. That's fine. You know, I never thought that I'd have a license or a badge. It feels a little skeevy.

Does that wear off? I don't know. It's just a way to do what you were always doing. It's just a, they want to rescue you do it now. Well, what do you mean? I... asking permission from anybody is fucking nightmare. For what it's worth. I don't view it as asking for permission. It's more about getting paid for it. And there are other benefits too. Yeah. Yeah, you know, they do their best to protect your identity and just make you better at your job. Uh,

we haven't found any downsides thus far. Matt we pike? Not one. I mean, I didn't even get the shit kicked out of me. I said, Sean, it's awful. Why am I so unfodogenic? Anyway. Well, congratulations. Well, thank you for having me on the crew. Thank you.

Me for joining us. I'll get over it. I'll get over it. And I will put my license away. Real bounty. You know, I'm getting used to space. I'm getting used to the stars. And, you know, I think that...

I'll get used to this. And what you did to your friend. I like your moxie kid. My friend? Not your friend, but your former. I know it's complicated. I shouldn't have said that. Why about saying that?

Are you? He's not really a friend. You know, they knew each other. Acquaintance, former. It was personal is what I'm trying to say. Fuck that guy. Well, I mean, yeah. I mean, you.

Like, you really need to get, like, the brig needs, like, soundproofing. You, have you not, like, tortured anybody before? Well. Because he was yelling at me to keep it down while he was watching his shows. Anytime we've had to torture somebody, I mean, it's just been me and Pye, and, you know, we're used to it. You're used to it, too. I just put in my noise-canceling headphones and listen to Zeta Macs. Everything's fine.

I mean, if we're going to get more people on the ship, I don't, you know, we should, at the very least, like, you know, do some soundproofing. I used to do, like, rodeeing and sound stuff for some bands. I could help with that. Are we really going to torture someone so often that we need to put soundproofing in our ship? I feel like, it should be rare enough that we feel it, you know? I don't like to call it torture. It's more persuasion. No, it's definitely torture.

Space potato, space potato. Look, regardless, we got the info we needed. Good fucking job. And we got a big fucking payday too. I think with the notes we got from old Big Thunder should cover three to four months of expenses. So we bought ourselves some time. We can breathe easy a little bit, more than we have been.

Well, that's good. and I know we're probably still a long ways off for both of us getting starships, but I think you're going to need to do a lot of teaching. I don't mind. Is it like riding a bike? In some ways, but you'll find it's pretty different. I feel like I'm going to be fine.

I mean, if it's anything like my simulators, I'm going to be a pro right from the start. You should see me. I'm excellent when it comes to the joysticks and the various buttons. and the barrel rolls? I have no doubt. Do you play space trucking simulator?

Why wouldn't I? You're just doing a job in a game. Oh, I mean, space trucking simulator. There are cleaning simulators where you just find a dirty apartment and as fast as you can clean it and with the right amount of accuracy, you get combo bonuses, folding clothes, folding linens. It's really quite a lot of fun. When you can be playing games where you can be fighting

punching, killing things. You decide to work for a wage and comply with regulation? Well, yeah, I mean, how are you going to get the trophy otherwise? Quick question. I don't get it. Is Ziggie's room a mess? It's filth. Yeah.

Just to make sure. Piles of clothes, on the bed, off the bed, hands in all directions, right? You'll see that also reflected in the lounge. Like, as you look over at that Crescent couch, like Ziggies cast, Ziggy is absolutely made himself at home reflecting exactly how he treats his bedroom in the main

year. But he's clearly thinking like you're telling me that you're going to fold clothes in a video game because you can't even do that in real life. Like, Pikes has nothing, but that's what he's thinking. Of course. You hear a microwave go off. Oh, that's my space burrito. I'll be right back. All right. Well, I'll get used to it. Thanks for bearing with me here.

I mean, you're getting your space legs. And to answer your question, I mean, we can talk about a starship when you're ready. And maybe we can, you can give her a lessons and Ziggy too once he gets back from getting the space planet. Of course. But, do you guys get in the dog fights? It's happened a few times, for sure, yeah. It's unavoidable. I mean, I saw a wreck ship.

I mean, God, how does anyone fucking survive those? Well, I guess they don't. Well, I try not to use it unless I have to. You understand? I mean, it's big. It's barely a personal shit. That thing's fucking huge. Well, I mean, it serves a lot of purposes, you know. It was a modified little tug ship, so to speak.

Yeah, I mean, Hank took me down and got in this little turret station. Yeah, I mean... I can't believe you taught a robo dog to a deadly turret. That's fucking awesome. That was his request. You're an awesome dog. I'm putting it at egg. He insisted.

And so I loved it for him. But I did open a separate savings account to start saving for your starships. And I invested it all on a low-risk money market account. You'd keep up with space inflation. I didn't understand anything you just said. That's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. You think based on the yield you could afford their ship in a reasonable 10 to 15 years? I hate that all of that is now King.

I think, like, Co, like, I look a little, like, I look a little touched. I'm like, no one's ever done, started saving an investment account for me. Like, you know, it's, or in a very long time. I think that there would probably be something at the very least that, like, it's been a very long time since anyone that Coe has perceived. You've not really had anyone really looking out for you, truly. Except for like Mrs. Umay. Up until Macoro and Mrs. Jume, but your life before that, not really. And they, like, in and out of prison.

So this would absolutely be something that would strike very, very new to you for someone who's not Mrs. Jume. Well, I, you know, I thought I'd, before we turned in Saagio, you know, the last time. You know, I did one more, you know, little, just, just, just, just, just, just, just, to make sure, right? And I mean, I don't think he's gonna be able to use his one arm again. So he's gonna need to probably turn like full robo man. If he wants to do that fucking piece of shit, he's lucky he's alive and hopefully they hang him.

Maybe firing squad, what do you think? You never quite can tell what they're gonna do to these guys. You know, like I said, the elevator shaft is always an option in the future. That's what that fucker deserve. Anyway, I got more info. All right Let me get my notes I'm like gonna go

And And uh And uh I'm prepared a brief Like a real bounty hunter Huh Look at that It's not me doing the brief for once

Wow Look at you You know Pock You can learn a thing or two From you go All right You shuffle through a couple of crumpled pages

As you go to the notes That you took after your Uh Almost weak Interrogating Big Thunder And it's pretty obvious To anyone who looks at them That

the droplet smears of blood as you're written out, maybe even in certain scenarios, a little bit of scratchy handwriting as you'd, taking the notes as you were, conducting your interrogation in the way that you were, would have been difficult to write at times. Yeah, like, ah. Okay, yeah, hold on, hold on. Oh, these are just doodles, cool metal band logos. Oh, here, a lot of snakes. Yeah. Snakes are fucking cool.

Are you kidding me? I mean, it's cool. It's a lot of doodles and like, yeah. Skulls. Fuck, my handwriting sucks. Oh, and I got blood over. Okay. Take your time.

We're in no rush. Well, you know, Gropulis, Jay Weedlevox, that's our guy. That's the guy. That's our next target. He's captain of the syndicate. So right underneath the boss. So he's a captain.

He's a captain. So he reports of the boss of the syndicate. That's well, I mean, I think that, I think that Sagiyo wouldn't have lied to me given the circumstances. If this is true, then everyone needs to listen up, especially you. What? One. Do you make me one?

You want one? Yeah. Oh, I'll give you one when I finish this. If this guy's a major player in the syndicate, we're not made me one. messing with street corner thugs anymore. You understand? Well, yeah, he seems to be,

it says that he, the city that he's in, Paradise City, around the fucking knows these rich assholes on Cherix, is that he owns it, like he's fucking in bed with all the politicians, all the business is there. He's a globelin. So, you know, there's a lot

of them, a lot of them on this world. And, God, there's so much blood here. Globlin, huh? Yeah. And so he's giving, he's giving kickups to,

obviously, to his boss, which presumably is the leader of the fucking red belts, those fucks. And he's getting a cut, skimming off of the local businesses, and he has his goons. I guess they're fancy or more equipped red belts he's got working for him.

What else are I got here? You're doing great. You're doing great. Yeah, I decide. Billy briefs aren't my thing. Usually I just like roll up to a place and, I mean, an elevator shafts work a lot. And you know, and you know, my boots usually do a good job. I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm nervous.

Elevator shafts don't pay, Coe. Until they do. You're right. Apparently though, the problem is, there's a fucking problem. Apparently, motherfuckers paranoid as shit. Apparently, he lives in a fucking fortress that makes that old cannery where Sagiyo was hiding out and looked like a fucking sandcastle. Fuck.

And so, like, fancy mansion, heavily armed. He's very careful about when and where and when he travels in secrets with a fleet of fucking armed goons. This is going to get interesting. danger. But I really had to do this. You know what they say? Pike? Remember what we talked about in prison? The dead man?

Is it you paying attention? What? You got to listen to this. My burritos, it's too hot in the inside. Too hot on the inside? I burned my mouth. Yesterday you were complaining the burrito was too cold on the inside.

Well, I gave it two more minutes. Do you need napkin? Sure. Oh, there's blood all over this. I was gonna say it. I'm so glad you said it. I was gonna say, watch out for the blood. Oh, that's so good.

Every time you bite into the burrito, Ziggy, and it's split on the end and a little bit of that lava hot juice falls out and gets on your hand. Yeah, it's run. You have an oil stream all the way down your arm. All right, what were you saying? Sorry, I wasn't, I was, I was, I was, is it. It's a complex eating operation, burritos. I mean, we're about to have a brief. You need to make a burrito.

I'm listening. I'm listening. Right? But make sure you're fucking paying attention. We got, we got, we got, we got Graubulus. Hold on, hold on, hold on. I don't know why, you can't get blood on a screen, you know, or in a screen, I guess, I should say. You can get blood on a screen.

That's just ridiculous. All right, grabulous, high ranking. I'm parting a life lesson. What's that? Dead man. has few secrets. A tortured man has none. That's wise.

And true, it's actually very true. Aren't you glad she's on our side now? I am. So what he was holding back and the thing that he was afraid of, because he thought that when, you know, when I fucking broke his arm in 10 more places back down after the chase

and after the fight, he thought there was no way we could actually get to him. And we all get ourselves killed. But this wheedlevox guy has a weakness, a way to get to him. A weakness. So he runs the Glitz Room.

That's his main operation. That's his front to look. I mean, he pretends to be like he's completely fucking straight. And this is a club in Paradise City? It's a club in Paradise City called the Glitz Room. All right. And so apparently, it's a fuck ton of clubs in this place. But apparently, it's one of the big ones.

There is a songbird that he has, a songstress, the main venue headliner, the normal headliner at this place. Her name is Pixel Pop, also a Globlin. Apparently, been with him for years. And that's his weakness. She apparently has full run at the fucking place. Apparently, she walks past the guards. They don't even fucking look at her.

She has access to all of the fucking secret doors. Just in and out, and she has the ear of this fucking guy. And she's some musician. Apparently, it's the key to his fucking operations. I don't understand. But that is how we can fucking get to this guy. And so, I mean, I don't know how, but what he said about her is that she is a fucking yapper and says how she wants to be a big star. The Glitzen, this isn't big enough for her.

Dreams, she wants to be fucking signed. She's always, she's always talking about being a big star across the galaxy. You know, she's only really known, not even an all-on Cherokee, but just in Paradise City. And so she wants to be a big star. And so I don't know how he fucking worked with that. I mean, could we intimidate somebody? This. So you're saying we get to her,

and through her we get to him. Yes. Well, that's what Sagio amongst the screams. Amunds the screams. Okay. Was saying that was the last bit before he passed out. And we chucked him over and I got my fancy fucking license. We got our payday.

Yeah. So, all right, it's not gonna be as easy as getting Keogian's help of paying anybody off if he's as paranoid or ruthless as he is. I mean, it's a good plan. Oh, and that's the fucking thing. That's what he was bragging about. It's like, you know, Saigio had the run of the undercrust, but, I mean, you know, Keogyn hated that fucking guy as much as we did it. And so apparently on chairs, everybody fucking loves. We know fox.

He's everybody's friend. He's everybody, he, every business he has his grubby little fucking pausing. Oh, look at this. Look at this one that I fucking did. That's like a T-Rex. He's got lasers on him. Oh, that's really cool.

Hold on. I like take a picture of it with my grid boy and I like put it up and I immediately start like turning it into like a 3D render that starts to rotate around. I mean, I thought that mine was, I thought that mine was pretty cool.

I'm trying to keep the, the rustic appearance, but I thought maybe you could use like a you we could turn this into a product see the the band is called T-R-E-R-E-C-K-S with a W-R-E-C-S yeah no T-R-E-C-S yeah I got it I got just a band idea I don't know we can make some shirts I don't know can we make money I don't know yeah I thought we just order them we just wear them yeah that'd be fucking sick I got you can you do that now well I mean I don't know if I can make an order right here right now but I I I am

looking up the glitch room. I'm looking up a pixel and her socials, you know, they're, she doesn't have a lot of followers. Anyway, thank you. How much time do we have to reach this Paradise City? I mean, we can take the time we need to prepare. I mean, I want to go in and have a solid fucking plan and I don't think what's going to work is us just walking up to this pixel girl and be like, hey, we're a bunch of bounty hunters and we really want to take in your boss or boyfriend or whatever the fuck. So how do we get to her? I don't know.

I think we need fucking time to think. I mean, this isn't, I'm really out of my fucking depth. If this were one of my games, we would seduce her. We, we, we, we would go up and buy her a drink. And if you pick the right options in the right order, Bob's your uncle. What? I can't stress this enough to you, Zee. This is real life.

This isn't a movie or a game. There are lives at stake here. You think picking up chicks is like some fucking game? I don't know, I mean, it's basically one to one. I mean, games are very similar. It can't be that different. Why you just talk some sense into the kid? It's too risky.

You get emotions involved, and it's never really worked for me. It's not that hard. I mean. I mean, look, this is how you do it. Uh, um, pretend that you're doing. that you're what's what's your character you're you're a lady at a bar all right I take the like flap of my hoodie and I slap it back okay so this is how you pick a woman so you approach a woman so and that's it just be yourself and just

that's it's not that easy it's it's it's absolutely that fucking now I'm gonna sometimes are you kidding me I don't speak for yourself well that's That's gotta be the play. We, we, we go and we say, hey, hey, hey, Miss Pop, how are you doing? Uh, sup. We, we sup. And, incur the fucking wrath of Wiedelvox? Trying to steal his girl?

Thank you. Are you fucking out of your mind? I'm just ideating. No, no, no. Look, Ziggy, I appreciate the hustle. Well done. Look, you don't have to figure it out right now. And after him eating his blue,

I've worked up an appetite for some whiskey. What do you think, Pike? Yeah, pour me one, please. Make it a double. All right. And I'll walk over to the bar and I'll get two glasses. Go, Ziggy. Want anything?

Yeah, can you give me a beer? Energy drink. I'll make the drinks and I'll grab the and I'm like, alright. I like big hands. Yeah, yeah, you're a giant fucking head. Yeah. And I'll bring it over and I'll take it to the couch

and I'll sit down and I'll pass out. Thanks, big guys. Thanks, thanks. Thanks. Thank you. Another cheers. You guys earned it. All right.

Good job. Co. Congratulations again. It's official. Welcome to the team. Yeah, my fucking license. Get to lick the beads over a fucking guilt. I bet they fucking take a cut.

Of course they take a cut. Who? The guild. I mean, yeah. It's their finder's fee. They're providing a service. They need to get compensated for it. I'll get over it.

I'll get over it. I'm gonna lean back. It'll kick my feet up and say, what do you want to watch? Oh, I thought we would watch more. Do you want to watch some racer epitlam? Oh, you know, one of the few times that you and I agree. I mean, we're only a few episodes into season one.

I figure we just pick right up in like, you know, three, four, eight episodes. We go by in a flash. I'm in. Is that the one that I was listening to while you were watching it, where it's the guy and he's got the race car? And he's mysterious. That's exactly right.

I could watch that. That sounds fun. I'm sure there's some channel that has it. I'm gonna like turn on the TV and I'll just flip through all the channels until I find some sort of, I'm not really like trying to find exactly Racer X. Oh, hey.

I'll make some space for a little. Oh, no, here, I'm gonna see with Hank. And I grab Hank and I'm like, I have a beer in one hand and I have Hank and I'm like trying to do the two-handed, like with the remote. You've scooped Hank up and his paws just lightly over your massive forearms as he sits in your grasp. You're flipping through the channels. You see various shows coming and going until eventually you navigate to an episode of Racer Epsilon.

You watch it. Oh, this is the mysterious Specter Zero. He's so mysterious. It's fine. Is every character mysterious? Yeah, I mean, everyone except for, well, no, no, everyone's matured. Who's that? Oh, that's the leader of Axis Grand Circuit.

Oh, what's his actual identity? You've seen this, right? Oh, mysterious, I'm not gonna tell you. No spoilers, man. Just watch it, right? I know as much as you do. Why are you asking? Co, I owe you a

question. Come on, big guy, just relax, enjoy it. I get up and I make co-burrito in the microwave. Oh, yeah. I guess how long it needs to go. I never get the temperature, right? I double fist a beer and a burrito. And I'm like, I look, I'm happy.

I got a pub. What a chat is. Yeah. I'm double fizzing a beer and a burrito with a robo pug in my lap, and I'm just like, I'm kind of like, just, I'm watching it. I have no idea what's going on,

but I'm enjoying it. The burrito is somehow simultaneously, lava hot on one end and ice cold on the other and that's pretty good you you spend a couple minutes watching this this episode race or Epsilon until it goes to a commercial break and as you watch TV you see scenes or as it turns into this commercial you see scenes of space filled with glittering stars and hear the bombastic voice of a TV announcer.

He's a desperado among the stars, discovering new worlds and unknown life forms throughout the cosmos. He's an explorer, a bounty hunter, a TV star, a singer, a gambler, and a lover. You've watched his hit show, you've listened to his holiday album, you've purchased his tie-in portable grill, and now he's coming to a casino near you, because he's coming to a casino near you because Lady Luck is always on his side. He's the real space cowboy. Rex Maxim! As the advertisement plays to the tune of funky disco music,

static images of a Solari and heroic poses slide across the screen. He has skinned the color of a creamsicle with a perfectly sculpted pompadour runs a gradient from cherry red to burnt orange. He has a chiseled jaw framed by large, sharp sideburns that nearly run all the way to a prominent cleft chin. His smug face is caked in makeup including heavy bronzer, pink eye shadow, thick mascara on long lashes, and a golden heart painted just below his left eye.

He wears a gaudy white and gold cowboy's suit elaborately bejeweled in glittering rhinestones and adorned with dangling tassels, open so wide that most of his chest is exposed in a deep V. A red bandana is tied around his neck, matching the color of his gaudy heart-shaped belt buckle and the tips of his bedazzled shoes that emerge from bell-bottomed pants legs. As the announcer's voice fades, the image comes to life as Rex Maxim addresses the TV audience. That's right, all my fans across the galaxy. The Rex Maxim, Real Space Cowboy.

Lady Lux smiling casino tour starts in one month, kicking off at Seventh Heaven Casino in the Roxel sector. I'll be at each tour stop for one week only, so don't miss the chance to meet me, Rex Maxim, real space cowboy in the flesh. I'll be playing cards, rolling dice, cutting a rug. singing all my hits, signing autographs, and even unveiling strange new alien species discovered by me, Rex Maxim, real space cowboy.

So I'll see you at your nearest casino. All right, ladies, let's boogie. Let's boogie! Suddenly two beautiful women in go-go outfits appear next to Rex Maxim, and the trio begin to dance with exaggerated and almost uncomfortably sensual, Gai rating has the dates and locations of the casino tours scroll up the screen. I am so sick of these goddamn commercials.

I thought I turned on the ad blocker. I don't understand. Can we go to that? I can't believe Rex Maxim. I mean, how far is the Roxel sector? Even a huge star, we should go. How far is it? I don't care how far it is. Why would you want to go see that fucking jackass? The two of you cannot be serious. What do you mean? What are you talking about? He discovered aliens, he's a playboy, he's a cowboy, he's a bounty hunter, he discovered aliens.

He's a desperado among the stars. I mean, Mrs. Ume and I used to watch all of the reruns of his old reality show. He's in a ton of them. Didn't he ever watch Maximum Love? Wait, you've seen real space cowboy? Yeah, of course. I mean, I feel like everyone's seen real space cowboy. I mean, obviously he's falling off and he's on a...

nearly as popular as it used to be. He's probably about a sea list celebrity right now, probably. Yeah, that's why he's doing spin-off after spin-off, after spin-off. But real space now, boy, is the real deal. It's badass. Where do we even begin? Look, we've got a job to do, all right?

And, you know, if for whatever reason y'all really want to see him, maybe we can do some gambling at the casino. Why do you have a problem with Rex Maxim? You see how cool that fucking commercial was? You see how hot those sexy dancers were? They were pretty hot. The hair, the outfit. What's with that star, the heart that he's got on his face?

He's just got a stupid-looking face. He's a desperado among the stars. Yeah, it's part of his brand, man. He's just a cool guy. And, I mean, here's the thing. He tries to play bounty hunter when he's nothing but. All right? And I know. Trust me.

Well, there was very clearly episodes where he's episodes where he did Bountye out. Yeah, that was the whole point of the first show. That's what made him famous. I know that he wasn't a trucker in that other reality TV show that he briefly started. I know that he wasn't a chef in that other reality TV show that he briefly started. I know that he wasn't a ghost hunter in that other reality TV show that he briefly started. Ghosts?

I know that he wasn't a cop in that other reality TV show. Have you ever run into the movie? the guy? No, but I would love to. I would have him sign all the paraphernalia that I have that are related to his various properties. Look, we've run into the guy. What? And when we got there, there were camera crews and it was an episode of a show. We got the bounty from the GBG and just it all seemed like a fucking sham. When we showed up, I think they were playing us off for drama. What? What? Wait, you were on Rex Max at Real Space Cowboy? I mean, in a- I thought they would have recognized you guys.

In a technical sense. We wouldn't sign the waivers so they had to blur our faces and try to... Hold on, hold on, hold on. No, don't look at it. Wait, you guys are the bubbling bounty buffoons in the episode of Rex Max and Real Space Cowboy? Bumbling Bounty Buffoons? It's happened that way. It wasn't...

Listen, no, it's all made up. Do you have it? The VHS country. The way that they edit these things is nothing like real life. I'm cascading it now. They cut all the cool moments. Look, we were competent and they cut all those parts. They gave that jackass credit for everything.

And we were the reason he got the bounty in the first place. And here it was, it was all just a fucking, it was for drama. It's all editing. And they wanted to sit us in this small room with a blue backdrop and fucking interview us while they play like woodblock. sounds. Man, I really thought that those bumbling bounty buffoon guys really almost ruined the day there. I mean, I can't believe that was you guys. Play it. I got it. I got it. Ziggy. Warning you. I'm scrubbing forward. On the screen you can see the blurred faces of what

is very obviously from the neck down. Yeah. Smash cut immediately to the to the blur of the moment getting interviewed the moment that she can immediately tell that it's very awfully

see all that yeah yeah immediately I don't I'm not saying your goddamn weaver I didn't consent to this

I remember this episode that's crazy I didn't know it was you guys wow these employers like get that camera out of my face yeah the camera's like

the camera's like beep like this is like this The whole time I've known you for so long and you never told me you were a celebrity. Ah, Cole. Look, you couldn't even see our faces, right? Like, he's barely a fucking celebrity. I don't get all the hype.

I mean, he's, I mean, you heard the commercial. He's a desperado among the stars. He discovers new worlds and life forms and new alien species all the time. I mean, he used to. You can do it all. Where have you run into him besides that? I mean, we see him across the galaxy. I mean, as bounty hunters, we go to a lot of casinos and he's there.

And, you know, we've seen him win big and lose big. You know, do you think you could introduce us? Do you think you remember you and like, we could get, like, we could get autographs? Oh, we could get a, we could get a photo. I mean, maybe he knows who we are. I mean, what do you think? I don't know. I mean, crew of the Rhapsody, I feel like we run into the guy enough times where at least we'd be like on the first name basis?

All I'm saying is that he doesn't always look that point together, all right? What you're seeing is manufacturing? What's he really like at the casino? He's a jackass. He's a fucking, you know, he's, he does not enjoy losing, is what I'll say. And if we're up to me, if I had to guess, nobody's doing that much spin-offs if they don't need the money. There's no way.

The V-Rex Max and the Hills Space Cowboy, Desperado amongst the stars is a degenerate gambler. With the gambling, Rob. Co, you don't have to stay the whole title every time you mention it. There's no way. Look, I had his portable low-fat grill. I did not. That's very funny. Silica, can you see if you can de-blur Retton Pike's face?

No, no, no. It starts to like scan through. And there's like a hand and also like a warped face where red face should be. Oh, that's way off. Oh, that has an extra finger. Yeah, there's six figures. Oh, that's... Silica, good work, Silica.

All right. Look, what casino did it say? Seventh heaven. Seven heaven. While we're having this conversation... And we have a month to play, so we can do this job and then go to the 7th and then? While we're having this conversation,

I'll just be kind of looking at what Ziggy's doing while he's messing with the episode, and maybe a tab that is still open on your computer will catch my eye of Pixel Pop, where you were doing research about her Instagram. And it'll catch my eye, and I'll kind of lean in and take a drag on my cigarette, and then I'll say,

You know what? Give me an hour. I think I have an idea. All right. I'm looking forward to it. I'll be back, and I'm going to grab my glass and say, but I'm going to need a top off. And I'll pour you like more.

Oh, before you go, can you grab me out of the beer? My hands are filled with dog and burrito. No problem. I'll stick the cigarette in my mouth. I have a dog on me. I can't get up. As I walk past the fridge, I'll grab a beer, and I'll definitely toss it to you.

I'll grab it. or I'll attempt to grab it, as I will crack another. I'll be back in an hour. And I head back towards my room and leave you three to just kind of talk while I say that I have an idea. Y'all are in for a tree. It's been a while since Pike's had an idea. Not like he doesn't have ideas, but this is kind of his, like,

specialty, you know, he's really good at this sort of thing. Is he? Oh, yeah. No, it's... You know, I know he comes off as sort of cool and aloof, but he's as capable and as skilled as they come. I mean, he's very cool and aloof. Yeah, that's sort of his, you know, vibe.

And he was a good friend in prison. I'm excited. You two go way back. Well, you know, not just way back as you guys. No, I know, but I mean... But, I mean, I've never really got to see him work. I mean, outside of, you know, what... You know, from, you know, from Macoro and...

everything since. Well, I'm going to hope that it was just a bad day when you met. How many times did you met? You probably met him, I don't know, half a dozen, maybe a dozen times. You know, wow, that's a lot. When you're in this line of work and you sort of are just

jetting through the galaxy like you do, we're sort of in an adjacent lines of work. You fucking run into people. And it's just every time I meet the guy, he's just a fucking jackass. I, you know, I just get this, I feel like in all my years I've developed a gut. You know what I mean like a gut instinct?

I just sort of get a vibe, a read on people. You know, well, it's just something doesn't feel right. Look what I made. I hit play and it's the end of the commercial where Rex Maxim's like, all right, ladies, let's boogie. And the two beautiful women come in, but there's the cut. out heads of Pike and Rhett? No!

On the top. No! And they're doing this. And Rhett's mouth is animated. You stole a bounty! You stole our bounty! Yes! Oh, that's perfect.

That's perfect. Oh my god, it looks just like them. How do that? That's amazing! After about an hour I come back, I like, glance up in the screen and I scowl. And I've got briefs in my hand. I actually have briefs in my hands.

some paperwork and I say, okay, I think I got it. And I throw these three folders onto like the kind of coffee table that's sitting in front of the couch. It's been a while. And each one has your name on it. Oh, good. Paper folder. And I say. And land definitely and then slide towards you on the table. Pipe tosses them down.

I didn't hear anything. Just email me. Why? What are you doing? And I look at the three of you and then I look at the three of you. And then I look at Rhett and I say, it's not going to be cheap. What do you have in mind?

I mean, let me hear it. Two words. Rhapsody Records. What? We're going to be music producers. This pixel pop, she wants to be famous. We're going to give it to her. You, my friend, big time hot shot producer.

Oh, all right. You, co, of course, the muscle, the bodyguard. The big guy's going to need. need some muscle for protection. He's a hot shot. I can do that. Ziggy. Sexy rock star. You're a stepson. What? Wait, my stepson? That's right. Oh, I have a lovely Soryan wife. The stepson and assistant? Stepson? Yeah, you're learning the trade from your stepdad here, Do you think anyone's going to buy me as a stepson? I think we're going to be okay.

And if it's any consolation, I was rooting for sexy rock star. He thought me. I was rooting for sexy rock star. And that leaves me. I drive. That's a really cool thing to say. It's a really cool, like, holy shit. All right.

All right, I'm with you so far. Alright, do we have names, identities? Well, I've got some suggestions in there, but feel free to toss some out. I'm thinking, for you, Rett Rye. What do you think? Oh, Rett Rye. Wait. Music producer of Rhapsody Records.

Ret Rye Rhapsody Records. You know, it kind of works, doesn't it? Wait, why don't we change in their first names? We don't do that anymore. Why? We tried it. It doesn't work. It doesn't work.

It doesn't work. It's a bit harder to play it off if you accidentally mix up somebody's first name as opposed to their surname. That makes that kind of sense. Who's going to do that? I look around sort of awkward way and like. Has that happened before?

Let's not get into it. There's a reason we do it this way is all I'm going to say. Look, it just sometimes you're not thinking about it and you accidentally say, Pike instead of Glorpo and, you know, the whole fucking job's ruined. Don't bring up the Glorpo man.

Smash cut to a sequencing of different scenes where Ziggy, Rett, and Pike are all standing next to each other in different outfits. And Ziggy turns over and just Rhett, oh, fuck. And then there's like 50 guns off. Yeah. Sequence, sequence, sequence.

And all the same thing. Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, exactly. And look, here's the thing. If they just have a first name with, you know, the protections the guild offers, they can't just look at something, right? So it's worked out the best. This is just how we do things. For you, I'm thinking Saxon.

How's that sound? That's fucking cool. Yeah. Co-Saxon, co-saxon, co-saxon. Got it. I got mine figured out. Hit me. Have you ever seen Power Brunch?

No. Power brunch. It's this really cool show about this family. It's all powerful. and it's about their family dynamics while they're also dealing with the pressures of being such a powerful family. They're called the Nepo family.

I feel like that's a really cool name. So Ziggy Neppo for me. I'm typing it in. All right, lock it in. And for me, Pike Scorpio. Oh, that's really fucking cool. That's really cool. It's not too much, isn't it?

It's definitely too much. You know, at Paradise City, I think that's going to be a little. Yeah, we're gonna fucking Paradise City. We gotta fit in. So you think anyone's gonna buy Pike Scorpio? Pork, pork, pork, that's fine. I'm the driver.

Rhapsody Rick. Nobody's gonna look at me twice. That's fair. That's fair. I'm with you. I'm with you. I'm with you. So I'm thinking if we can just get this pixel pop alone,

offer her a deal, and we'll get her like that. And so we, oh my gosh. In this, we have to, New wardrobes? Yeah. Luxury cars? Yeah.

Luxury hotels? I mean, we got to play the part. We're selling a fantasy here. Okay, Co? It's going to be expensive. Hey, it's not going to last us three to four months anymore. But this is an investment. If we pull this off, Pike, I think we're going to get this guy.

This isn't the Little Leaks anymore. We're playing serious ball here. We've got to step our game up. All right. And that means making some investments. We got the funds, right? We got like three, four months of funds. Yeah, but I think this is probably going to cost three to four months of funds.

We spend it all? We go all in? This is just like Rex Maxim. Which one? When we gamble it goes all in, you know? When there's a strange new alien species to discover, no cost is too high. Ziggi, I'm going to say this one. time. Don't

do that anymore. Don't compare us to Rex Maxim. Never again. Do you understand? All right. All right, all right. This is similar to when Max Raxham was a cool gambler guy.

I've never seen Max Raxon. Is he cool? The gaunt. The gauntlet begins the glove. Well, what else do we need in order to convince him? folks that we're not who we say we are. I mean, we just have to live the lifestyle. We gotta look the part, we gotta play the part, we gotta, I mean, once we get there, ran a nice car,

find the most expensive hotel in Paradise City. And I think, let's see here, I think Meteor Mall might be on the way to Cherrics, so maybe we can swing by there and pick up what we need. Mall shopping. I mean, you've been at malls, right? I mean, I've been around them and in the I've never chopped at them.

It's always too expensive. Well, we get to go to a shop at a mall. Today's your lucky day. This is an amazing plant, Pike. You're very good at your job. And this one's on a meeting. Oh, is? I mean, it's in the night.

Well, I mean, sometimes you just call something Meteor Mall just because it's really, I didn't want to assume. Hey, can you, uh, charge us a course for Meteor Mall? Go. Yeah, here you go. Drop them down. Oh, yeah, yeah. I mean, take your time. We're not in a huge...

I mean... Let's get started. Hank trots off lightly on either put as he runs towards the... It makes his way casually towards the bridge. As he clicks in and begins to plot a course towards a meteor mall. And you feel the... you can feel the slight turn of the ship as you shift lightly in the ether. lightly in the ether waves and you begin to make your way.

It won't take too long. Meteor Mall is on the way to Cherokeex. You'd already been plotting a course there as you knew that this was the location where you'd be able to find grobulous J. Weedle Fox. So without too much fanfare, you arrive. You arrive at Meteor Mall, a sprawling five-story, shopping complex stationed at the center of the Latofia sector, with robust docking for the countless ships that visit each day. Throughout the long, tired corridors of the Consumer Space Station, flickering holograms display

information and advertisements amidst the numerous stores and eateries selling most kinds of goods any galactic resident could want. Teenagers of all species ride throughout the mall on hoverboards, ascending and descending the long escalators in an instant, much to the chagrin of the older speedwalkers just trying to stay active. You feel as if this is the place where you can find what you need to make your personas convincing. All right, while we're picking up the things that we need, I'm going to make some phone calls. I'm thinking we're going to stay at the Golden God Hotel. All right. Is that expensive? Oh, you better believe it. All right, good work. Is it nicer than the play than the, the,

Then the love motel, we say that in the undercrust. Co, I can't begin to describe the turbo roaches. The difference between these two locales. Sometimes my folks stay there. The fact that I've heard of it means that it's pretty fucking nice. Wow. If we're going to do this, we're going to do it right. And part of that is living it up a little bit while we have the funds.

All right. So, Paradise City. What kind of things are there to do? I mean, we have to dress for some kind of time, so we need to cover a variety of scenarios, right? That's exactly right. Oh, so it's, it's, uh, Sagiya said, you know, it's Beachtown, clubs, dancing, bunch of degenerate shit.

Fun, fun, fun stuff. All right. They got turbo carts. Oh, shit. There's entertainment. Yeah. I'm just gonna keep taking an oath. Oh, okay.

Um, I guess, do we, if there are like enough shops to get literally everything we need, I think I would want to basically case the place and get enough outfits for a variety of scenarios. Yeah. During the day, at night, like, lots of jewelry. We need to be fashionable. Yeah. You would know that Meteor Mall contains basically any shop, anything you could really seek to find reasonably there. And amongst them, their shops that are so large and expansive, you can walk into one single one and find a massive array of clothing in styles, shapes, sizes. You could walk into a single location and find just about anything all of you would want to put together for your time in Paradise City.

I will go, and I'm going to look through, like, well, if I'm going to be a britch, like a bouncer and bodyguard, I'll like go through the same. and I'll try them all on. I'm like, how the fuck does anyone do anything? So like I almost like, I feel like one of the suit shoulders start to pop and rip. And so I'm like, okay, I'm not gonna fuck with that. The scene starts to stretch out as the threading

like is barely keeping the sleeve on. And so I'm gonna get a collection of like slacks, vests, ties, shirts and like basically like, I'm gonna keep my arms free and roll them up. And this still, this still sucks, but I think I can kick some ass in this. And you're able to find all that. Several pairs of slacks, vests, you can get a button-up t-shirt, you find one in your size

comfortably in almost a stretch material that allows you to roll the sleeves up to a place which is very outside of the clothing you normally wear. So you're not, you would say, style-wise comfortable, but you are not physically in discomfort. I would also find a variety of outfits, definitely one that's more casual for like, you know, beach wear, you know, being outside in the day when it's hot out or nice out. But for my driver outfit, I would definitely try to find something professional, something suit-esque, but not in the nice, fancy way that looks very much like a work uniform and maybe even like that with a hat to go with it to kind of put together the look of like a higher driver. Yeah. You can absolutely find swim trunks that are that are, that are, fitted to you that are nice for a day at the beach and anything else you might want to wear on top.

And you can definitely find kind of a nice put together high-end suit but that feels a little more generic in the black, maybe with driving gloves. Absolutely, absolutely. In whatever color, any color that you'd want to find the gloves in, you may do so. And absolutely, you look incredibly smart in it, but not too high fashion or anything. or anything. It's very regular working man's attire. I would get a lot of like really, I would try to look like opulent, right? Because I know that if I'm gonna be the producer, I would want to make sure. Like fur coats.

Yeah, yeah. Furs. I would have like a lot of like white suits and like light colored suits for the more tropical vibes. And you know, if presumably I would have met Globlins in my life, right? Yeah, absolutely. for bright sort of neon vibrant colors to sort of appeal to Jadal Vox and maybe his preferences.

Lots of chains, lots of jewelry, and, you know, a few hats maybe. Oh, nice. Fancy hats. And maybe something, you know, a cane, right? Oh, definitely a cane. A million percent of a cane. Absolutely a cave.

It makes me the stomach churn. I pick it up. Oh, yeah. You get all of that absolutely. You get extremely brightly colored suits, maybe even patterned on the outside. Animal prints, like, lavish, so over the top, the only people caught wearing them

would be filthy rich music producers. Purple, gator skin, like, spaces. Oh, yeah. Shoes, boots that'll match. You find a section of hats with long brims, one or two, even with a fed, a feather tucked into the band that wraps around it, really cementing the look. You have quite possibly the heaviest bag as you walk away with all of the jewelry, rings,

chains, anything you've picked up to add to your flare and your outfit. Several options of sunglasses you can wear in different colors, gradient shades, all just, though you were the first bulk at the cost, you have spent the most by a wide margin. It's also occurred to me that I've just now gone full cliff booth. Oh, y'all, yeah, exactly. Just, I'm a wrenched driver, but I'm also ready to beat ass. Yeah, yeah. And maybe even though you know that the weather will be warm,

maybe even a selection of like silk, not neckties, but almost like scarves they could wrap around your shoulders and come down. I'm also always ready to carry your stuff. Your luggage. Whatever you might have, like I'm carrying you. in the bags because that leaves Coe's hands open, free to be the bodyguard. A beautiful cognac brown leather that you get as well,

that keeps anything you might want within it that's always within Pike's grasp. Do we get like an allowance? It would be like blank check, basically just do whatever you need. It's a very step something that is. I would immediately go to the electronic store and purchase a number of gadgets for myself. And then remembering that I need to get outfits.

I would run to like the closest thrift shop and just like start going through hangar after hangar after hangar. And I'm remembering, I don't wanna fuck this up. Ziggy would want to be a good member of the team. And so he's channeling his inner Nebo family, Krelvin, who is the son of the main character in that show. Oh god, I love that.

And so he would get a like a silver blazer that is a little too small. It's a little too tight around the shoulders, it stretches on the back and sort of flares out. It's also, yeah, it's pulling at the button, it's also just a little bit shorter. Like it ends like a little bit higher than it's supposed to. You can see the top of the pockets on the back of your pants

as you wear. Please tell me you just keep your sneakers. I was thinking low first. I was thinking loafer. Yeah. All right, all right. Like petty loafers? And then very importantly, the pants don't match the blazer.

Yeah, 100%. It's navy blue pants. But it's the worst, it's the worst kind where you tried to match the colors together, but they're just different enough, where it's extremely jarring to look at you. If it had been two steps, it would have been right, but one step is uncanny valley.

I also get, I make sure that I get the fanciest pair of pants that Ziggi can think of. So they're pleaded on three. sides. And then I get I get... Punching Club chic. I get flat mirror shade like sunglasses with like that sort of thing. And then I get one of those like headphone... Oh, absolutely.

The earbikes that's around and I'm just constantly going and we're like, go for Zicky. Go for Zicky. Can you hear me? Yeah, I keep calling and everyone's ignoring my calls because they're out buying clothes. And then I would quickly quickly run over to like the discount bin and just like grab a bunch of like button downs and a pair of swimwear, some trunks. Yeah, I would get other stuff as for like... I would grab off the rack.

I would grab what looks like it might fit my feet, sandals. And I would stuff that all into one bag and then mostly just be excited about the fact that I bought some new discs and some new gadgets, that sort of thing. Yeah, but you're able to get all that as well as a pair of tan cargo shorts and a black band t-shirt. And you pack all that into a bag. You have your wearing your earpiece out of the store as you all meet back up after extremely successfully shopping in Meteor Mall. All right.

I got the reservations for the hotel. I secured this vehicle. Don't panic when you see it. Someone of your status would never even remotely bulk at the price tag. Oh, baby. All right. This is an investment. Everything I purchased was clothes.

This is an investment. This is an investment. I don't think I've spent this much money in a month. And we just did it all in a couple hours. To be fair, I'm not sure we've ever spent this much money in a month. This is definitely one of our spendier jobs. Oh, that means that means that we need to bring them in alive. That's right.

So we get the full bounty. I know I read the fucking brief, Pike. And it's going to pay off tenfold. You do know you stand to make significantly more from this bounty than you did for Big Thunder. Though you're absolutely correct that the stipulation is that he's brought in alive. And this will set you up very nicely to carry on to whatever the next bounty ends up. But if it's dead, it's less, right? We still get paid out.

The same general deal as the other. The bounty will be completed and you'll get paid out. But without living contract, it'll be a much lower percentage. Got it. And if it's any consolation, or it makes it a bit more palatable, just realize we are also doing a good thing. Exactly right. I mean, if we can fucking, you know, start disrupting the fucking red belts,

I mean, maybe we'll, you know, maybe they'll start to actually feel the fucking hurt. I don't think taking out Saagio did shit, maybe. hopefully for Macora at the very least for fucking Vanham. It just so happens that doing the right thing also pays well. You're exactly right. All right, Hank. Let's get us to Cherokee. I'll sit down in my seat, and Hank will be in the seat next to me.

Yeah, you've made your way back to the ship. You sit down back in the cockpit. Hank's right there. And yeah, we will, you know, whatever the most, It's in the same sector, right? Cherics is in the same sector. Everything so far, well, from Big Thunder to this, has all operated in the Latofia sector.

Got it. So Hank would calculate the best, you know, based on the ether currents that are kind of active right now, he would chart the best course, and he and I would lift off and head the Cherokee. In a matter of moments, you see a lit, almost like dot connections of lines show up on your display as Hank charts the path through the ether waves as they currently flow. And the Rhapsody once more ascends from Meteor Mall and takes off leaving this massive five-story shopping center in the heart of a meteor behind.

You blast on your way. And it won't take too long. It'll take several hours before you can make your way to Cherix. And you might spend that time looking at some of the outfits that you were able to procure, very possibly even changing into them or trying them on to get a better sense of what looks you may want to open up with. But eventually, you make your way. And after a while, you'll see Cherix start to come into view. The Rhapsody eventually arrives at its destination, the world known as Cherix,

is surrounded by flickering billboards in its orbit, showcasing the infinite ways to spend your money on the planet's surface. Thought the Latofia sector elsewhere in the galaxy, but your sights are on the capital of the world, appropriately called Paradise City. As you enter the atmosphere, you find a sprawling landscape of arid hills cut through by intricate network, of canyons, all along miles of pristine beaches lined with exotic palm trees and a seemingly endless sea glittering with the rays of the afternoon sun. Alongside this ocean stands Paradise City, rising up, out of, and along the deep ravines that dominate the region. The buildings here, not as tall or oppressive as the looming titans of Makoro City back on Van Arr. And they are far more spread out, letting the sunshine

into every corner of this impressive city. Its multiple tiers are navigable only by flying speeder cars which zip through the criss-crossing network of passageways between the buildings like roads of air. Countless landing platforms are everywhere, filled with shining and almost garish luxury vehicles. The Rhapsody lands at the Paradise Spaceport, and rent pays for a week of docking fees,

which are far more expensive than we're. what you were charged in McCora. It's not long before all four of you are at the car rental, standing before it, but standing before a lot of luxury air speeders of all manners, makes and models to pick up the one that you have reserved. All right. I'm up.

Okay, which one? I'll pick up the car. Wait here. And I'm going to go, whatever reservation I made, presumably that was something that I could do, go pick up the keys, and basically I'm hoping to drive up in style to surprise them all with this amazing luxury vehicle that is like way beyond our means even though we are renting it.

Yeah. I'm like a car like a quick question. Together we should decide. You make your way down. You leave the party in kind of a collection. You're all surrounded by these absolutely beautiful luxury cars as you make your way down a row. You'll see all sorts sprayed out along as you eventually make your way into a little, like a small building kind of in the middle of the lot. You can walk in and you have a brief exchange with a LICA running the desk.

You present your reservation paperwork and he'll hand you over the set of keys and direct you towards the numbered spot in the lot where you can pick up your your luxury air speeder than you rented. So the car has to be big enough for all of us to fit in, and because you are a, this is what I'm thinking, feel free to pitch your other idea, because you're this high-powered producer, you'd also want to be able to have other people come in the car and almost have like a party vibe, right?

Yeah, 100%. So kind of like a limo, but nicer, right? Something that would like almost be stretched, right? Right. Is what I'm thinking so that you can invite potential clients back to your car like with your champagne and discuss deals. 100%. That's what I'm thinking.

Yeah. Not like a super long one, but like a stretch lincoln. Yeah, exactly right. Oh, nice. That's perfect. That's perfect. So, yeah, I'm open to other ideas, but I'm thinking like for practicality. You're the driver.

You decide. You're the driver, man. I know red though, right? So like what I think your style is like dark black, or something a little flashier, like a, like a white car? Well, for the, I mean, for the character, I think going wider, like, yeah, like neon works for this. Okay, it's definitely gonna be, it will definitely be a light colored car, if not.

Pristine white. Pristine white's pretty good. I think pristine white. And the upholstery can be something neon. Oh, you love that. Yeah. Love that. Yeah.

And like that kind of car mixed with like the air speeders from Andor or in Attack of the Clones. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, those luxo speeder cars. I will pull up in this car and I'll have already set the tunes so that I kind of come up pumping, right? Not like obnoxious, but enough to be like, oh, this guy's drawing attention, right? The car, uh, uh, uh, hovers forward as, as no portion of it touches the ground, as this beautiful, uh, slightly longer stretch, white, uh, extremely nice car, uh, pulls into view with the windows are blacked out. With the windows are blacked out. The windows are blacked.

Absolutely. And I'll, so the car will pull up. You can see it almost like bump a little on the air as it, as it covers. my window will slowly kind of reel down, and then you'll see my face, and I'll say, uh, all right, guys, what do you think? Get in. You got it. And I will walk, I'll walk forward, and I will open the door for rent. Well, hold on, hold on, and I'll turn down. And if you're picking up at the, you're the, you're the Rhapsody, I'll look down at Hank, and I'll say, just like McCorro, just keep an eye on things. Hopefully it won't be as long as last time, but you're a very capable pun. And so just, anything, anything,

happens, you just ring me, but take good care of her, and I know you will. Capable pug? You're a good boy. You're good boy, Hank. Good boy. I'm going to miss you, Hank. Oh, yeah. We'll all get it scratches. And we all have, I guess, all for our luggage and stuff. Yeah. Oh, yeah. All your bags. I would say I would spend the time loading it. Possibly, at this point, only Coe or Pike would load the bags into the car. Oh, yeah. Into the back, based on how you've described the setup. I would absolutely help you too. You'll take just bag after bag of

uh... Fuck, how much shit did we get? Bags from Spaces as you walk over to the back of the car and you load it all into a trunk that's that is enormous in size and space and it looks like you could keep several body size bags of items in there should you choose to do so. Once we're all settled and Coe and I have like kind of packed everything up and everybody's inside and you guys are kind of in the back getting you know comfortable

with this setup. I will not be wearing my full outfit, but I will take out of the bag, I'll put the hat on. And I'll turn and I'll lean back and I'll look at the rest of the crew and I'll say, all right, Mr. Rye, where do you want to go?

Take me to the hotel, Mr. Driver. My pleasure. And I'll start the vehicle and assuming that I can maybe like GPS or get some coordinates or like, you know, who knows how fancy this thing is, right? Figure out where we need to go and start to assume my role as the driver.

And I'll have my club with me, and I'll get shotgun. And so presuming that really only... Laser rifle. Was that? Laser rifle. Not shotgun here. Oh, that's funny. That's very funny.

Very funny. I'll get Leo. I get laser shotgun. I call laser shotgun. And sit in the front. Presumably, only Rhett and Zieg should really be enjoying the back amenities. So as the hired help, we... Yeah, absolutely.

100%. We're in the front. I would say that the, unless you're thinking a different color, but the inside of the car are these beautiful leather seats in that like purplish hull leather of the Rhapsody itself. Yeah. Contrasting against the outside. And, and Ziggi, you fall back into comfort. Maybe at first uncomfortable with the setup or unaccustomed to this level of luxury ret Once you begin to kind of sink into these

Like bench style seat in the back that extends all the way out You can't help but think that this is extremely Comfortable and this is a very nice ride It's pretty nice dad I felt my drink Oh no it's not gonna stain it's not gonna stay it's fine it's fine it's fine instantly it's Instantly it stands I hope my gut spill protection Hey, what's going on back?

It's mostly ice. It's mostly ice. They're good. You're good. Okay. Let's just rest you drink out of the seat. This podcast is brought to you by our Patreon. Become a patron today at patreon.com

slash legends of avatrous and gain access to tons of exclusive perks, including a monthly movie night and weekly Patreon exclusive campaign set on the high seas shroud over salt marsh. You can also go to the crooked moon.com to pick up your own copy of our first published supplement the Crooked Moon, a folk horror tone for Dungeons and Dragons fifth edition and don't forget to snag all the extra goodies like dice miniatures plushies a tarot deck and more. Thank you. In between the two of his little pop-out rectangular section that comes out from the back of the the chair that

It has like a section of ice, whiskey, champagne of a sort, whatever you'd like to enjoy. Should you want to enjoy a drink as you're being driven to the hotel? In the front of the car, you have almost this HUD erupts in front of you, almost as intricate and sophisticated as what you'd see on the sparrow in terms of what it offers you and how nice it is. exceptionally high tier for a car that would just be navigating on world but it has this beautiful accent across the dash

where it's rimmed and almost this lacquered like natural wood that stands out from the from the leather and the rest of the car as you map your way to the hotel the golden god the golden god yes the golden god yes the Golden God Hotel. And you cut your way through this city.

You're surrounded by beauty. It's an exceptional ride. You're flying above the ground hovering as you're navigating through these air-style roadways. You're making turns in between buildings. You see people celebrating, eating at restaurants, but nothing on the ground. Everything always elevated.

Certain sets. sections just floating out in air with people scooting to and fro as dishes, drinks are delivered to them, all as they live hovering above. You navigate your way through this city relatively comfortably with the directions of this car until you eventually arrive at this beautiful, massive, like a white sandstone gigantic hotel resort beachside with a large emblem of a striking golden god posing right in the dead center of this erupting central building as it opens up as you pull in and you park the cars you pull up right to the front dropping the car off for valet Valet, dropping the car off of the valet.

What the hell is the name? Yeah. You pull into, to drop off for valet. This is the first time your cars begin to come back down towards a more street level. As you look in, you see a massive, almost two-story opening in the very front. You can look out and immediately from where you stand, you can see all the way through an expansive opening, almost like a grand cathedral. and all the way out to clear, beautiful, crystal clear oceans that just on the other side of this hotel

as you begin to make your wife. And you've arrived at the Golden God Hotel. Once we get ready to let out Ziggy Nepo and Mr. Rye, assuming that you'd be getting the door again, I would lean to you and say, I'll take the car and park and I'll meet you at our room. You make sure that the two of them get up there fine and keep up the airs, and I'll catch up as soon as I can.

Got it. As part of this, would we have gotten forged, like, credentials before we left? Like, would we have, like, IDs and stuff? I think that Ziggy would have gone out of his way to make sure that there was all sorts of digital representation of us online, even. Like, not...

Rhapsody records exist. Like, online. I would make sure that there... An online presence. There's a website now. There's social people. profiles. I've faked everything to make sure top to bottom, if you search rapidly records, it feels correct. And if we need a digital paper out of that, then fortunately,

I just purchased this new printer. And I, uh, I, uh, you like put like almost four just like laminated, forged ID cards. If I need to roll about that, I'm happy to. You absolutely, in the time that you spent, uh, from formulating the plan to getting to this point, take 10 for 10. You've been able to, to spend, uh, we'll say several hours. I'll say that would have taken you the entire time to get here, uh, in, including your trip to the Meteor Mall as well as here to be able to... I would have been working on it non-stop. Yeah, every moment not in the mall itself was you at the computer building out this,

this, these background persona ideas that reflect what Pike presented in the folders as the idea was being. I would have been working on it 100% of the time when I wasn't playing video game. You spent exactly the amount of attention you were prepared to spend on this? So you think albums and various artists that we like represent and that sort of thing? Yeah, I think that you could go and look and you'd have a profile of, of there'd be an about page, right? Of you as the owner, founder of this record label and a picture of you with this new, roll a computer check. AI manifestation of a Sarian wife that you have now.

Let's try Saratops. She's got a beautiful red dress on, like, pink puffy lips. Roll a computers check to see how well you do building the game. Bimbo triceratops. Jessica triceratops. A computer checking thing? That's cox, that's cock. Yeah, that's cock as hell.

Oh, let's do it 22. Oh, 22. Rhapsody Records has a beautiful website. Expertly designed, you can see the logo, all of the music, the hit singles, all very easily accessible at the top. It's a great layout. out and you were able to carefully craft the personas behind each new character that you've developed. We just signed the T-Rex and they have a logo and you be able to copy the bottom.

Yes, exactly. T-Rex with a W has just been signed by RAPSW's latest acquisition. Wow. So as we get out of the car. Yes, so that was all done beforehand. Come on, son. Let's get checked in. Check us in.

All right away, pop, and I step out of the limo, and one of my loapers stays inside of the car. Oh, shit. All right. All right, I got it. I got it. Let me get that for you, Mr. Rye. And I'll open the door as I'm carrying,

like a chit out of bags. Oh, let us take that for you. And running up to you, you'll see kind of as they move quickly, the brim of this ominite head flapping, almost as if it's like spores coming off of it. As they run up, two Ammonites had been flanking just the grand entrance.

And it almost a similar style of presentable wear in terms of a suit. But instead of a suit jacket, slack light-colored slack pants and a more vivacious, colorful, button-down shirt with the logo of the golden god on the shirt as they'll run up at first to you, Pike. One will go to you, one will go to the rest of you, attempting to collect the bags from you

and offering to take them in. Please, sir, we'll park the car. Are you sure? That's what I'm hired to do. But yeah, we'll know where the lot is. We can get it sectioned for you. Please, that's what we're here for. You're gonna take our bags? No, we'll take your bags.

We'll get them up to the room. I'm like, I don't know, hey, yeah, it's something. I'm also like, I don't want to give up the keys of the car. I just don't understand. Like, what the fuck? Get the fuck away, you know? Be cool, be cool, be cool. That's just how it goes.

I'm gonna look to this Amonite and say, but if Mr. Rye needs his car, I'm calling, and I'll throw the keys to this Amonite. Oh, please, yes, Mr. Rai, absolutely. Yeah, whatever you need while you're here. I appreciate that. You can call on us. My name's Barry.

And we'll be happy to help anything you need, day or night. For your trouble, I take out my giant cash clip. But it's like even thicker. Yeah, just like, I take a bunch of bills. Yeah, and I like, stuff it in the... And you may usually have it like almost rubber banded, but now it has this large, like, lavish gold clip that surrounds it. You take it off and flip out, however much...

How many notes you'd like to present. I'll take it to my... I'll take it to like 40 notes. Yeah. Oh, oh, thank you, Mr. Rye. Thank you. We'll take good care of the car. The bags will get to your room. If you just check in inside, they'll get you right up there and they'll help bring everything to the room and put them in wherever you'd like. Oh, and it's travel day. So we're dressed down right now. We're going to get spiced up and ready to hit the town. Oh, you look extremely nice, Mr. Ryan. You look extremely nice.

Right, right. Right. And I will attempt to kind of lead the way with Coe into this hotel room or into this building to see if I can. you know, make sure that we're good to go and kind of handle things for our employers. Yeah, absolutely. And so they'll take the keys, your bags, whatever you want to hand over to them. These valets have run up to you ready to just care for any need that you have as they zoom off. And not zoom off, drive slowly and respectfully off in your, you're like your scratch it. Woohoo! It still makes that sound though, it would be a beautiful engine, right? Yeah. Oh, oh, gorgeous. It'd be beautiful.

But it would be quiet, not to abhor. It's kind of this like purr of a car that you just know has this power, but it's this low, it's this confident low purr. It doesn't need to roar to show off. As you walk into this, into the Golden God Hotel, massive opening, trees, almost like palm trees, lavey inside as you walk across. this beautiful what looks like a like a dark gray kind of marble slab as it

stretches out it's so pristine you can see the reflections of yourselves as your footfalls click-clack across the ground as you move forward and at the other end of the hotel what you saw just from the opening of large ornate in that same kind of like white sandstone reaches up and creates an archway as it just leads out like almost this just totally open from end to end section that walks right out onto a white sand beach with beautiful crystal clear waters. I want to go.

I wish I was there. We are there in our hearts. I wish I was there physically. In our imagination. I feel too poor for this place. Just remember. Pretend like you own the place, all right? Not like Mr. Rye, but you know what I'm saying.

Yeah, be kind of a dick. Your own body. Garb, a bouncer, you're tough, you got confidence. Oh, yeah, I'll be like, yeah, one of those fucking mafia goons that, you know, didn't earn a fucking dime. Just look intimidating, you know how to do it. And yeah, okay.

You can take a bullet from me. I've seen hundreds of this asshole. I just gotta, I gotta get in it. I gotta get in it. And I'll see if I can walk up to the front desk. Yeah, you can absolutely walk up to the front desk. I put my ID down on the front desk and I say, Scorpio, I made the reservation,

but it's for Mr. Wright, the Mr. Wright. No, don't look at him, don't look him in the eye. Oh, human behind the counter with this kind of like sandy brown hair, wearing that same kind of almost like floral, nice shirt with the golden logo on the chest. Yes, sir, yes sir. I'm happy to check you in, whatever you need. Here you are. You said the name was Rye.

That's correct. I have your reservation right here. Can you tell me what kind of room we got? I might be looking for an upgrade. Uh, you have gotten, uh, the, uh, the, the highest room available, sir. You've gotten the, the, uh, uh, Olympians suite. How does that sound, Mr. Rye? Is that acceptable? Yeah, that sounds, uh, perfectly acceptable. All right. Thank you. We'll take our keys. Perfect. Is there going to be a fucking problem?

No, no, ma'am. What problem? No problem at all. Hey, hey, hey, hey, good. God Not yet, not yet We're going to serve you Whatever you can Whatever your Your heart's desire

Mr. Rye Accompaniment I said my piece Okay Here are your keys Please we'll have We'll have them Direct you up to your room

They'll take your bags Your bags are already up there And at your leisure Please enjoy the beach Whatever you'd like We have a beautiful restaurant Sample some of the finest foods the Paradise City has to offer.

At your leisure. You'll get on the elevator. Yeah. The Olympian suite. Look, you want to play the part? We've got to play the part. Oh, what's this going to cost me? A lot.

Oh, it's fine. It's an investment. It's an infestment. We've got to get in character. I'm Saxon. Saxon. Son. Well done.

I want to see you do more to take. charge. Are you listening some? Ziggy? What? Don't make me call your mother. Oh, sorry, sorry. What? Don't make me call your mother. Oh, you know, I don't do that. Well, I'll be cross if I don't know, I don't know. I just, I'm gonna work on it. You'll do fine, executive parental figure. pods. He can't hear us. Z, please, hack the mainframe.

Please, I'm begging you. I can't hack the mainframe. I'm listening to the Zeta-Max. I'm imagining this elevator, please, if I'm wrong, it's like a beautiful glass elevator. We are just able to look out on the heat in the ocean like ever. As you look out, you can see, you see the expansive interior of this gorgeous hotel as this, the building's The buildings here aren't as tall as the Macquaro City, like big sky rises were.

But they are elevated and as you rise up in this, it's a beautiful inside of the hotel. But this particularly positions you exactly right to look out over the crystal clear water. And you feel like from your vantage point you can look down and you can see the bottom of the white sand as the water elapsed at the shores. Nice. Until eventually the elevator brings you to your floor. The seventh floor, you'll exit and make your way to the Olympian suites. And as you walk in, you open the door and that same, it almost feels like the entire level of this hotel is available to you. As you walk forward immediately to your left, a beautiful, fully stocked bar, any drink you could want, you could make.

It looks like you could call to have it staffed if you wanted somebody to work it. And just two steps down a large, expansive white leather couch, kind of a crescents out, facing towards a wall-to-wall glass as the other end of this wall looks out and you have that same beautiful view of the ocean. as these gorgeous, long-winged white birds fly by. It's a picturesque view. As we step in and, you know, we get everybody into this massive suite, I'll take a look around and say, all right, we got time. I'll get drinks.

What's everybody want? I'll have an energy drink. I'll take a beer. You think they got whiskey? The usual then. Yeah, and I'll walk to the bar and see what's there and grab everybody what they want. respective requests and basically pour a couple of whiskeys, grab a beer for Co, get an energy drink for Ziggy, and bring it back and say, uh...

This bar stocked exceptionally well. The only difference between this bar and a bar you might go to is be nothing here is low shelf or mid-tier. Everything is the best version available to you possible. Extremely tough chocolate whiskey. Oh, they got a draft, a draft on board. Let's fucking go! With chilled steins sitting in a cool iced section, not with actual cubes, but actually somehow like a chilled black,

almost looks like a black sink, but as you touch the stone, it's cold to the touch, and it's chilling like six steins for pour. As you can get beer from the tap, you can get the topest of top shelf whiskey, you can get normal Gex energy drink. And then whatever, whatever. It's like there's just being Red Bull there always. It's Gex Platinum.

Oh, that's right. But it's like every bar that has Red Bull, like, variation of everything. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everyone's got a result. Absolutely. I would propose a toast and basically say to the gang, all right, we have some time to kill,

but let's soak this in. These times don't last forever. Well, and I think that we should get to the fucking glitch room as fast as possible. Okay. We want to be able to stake out the place. We want to get a vibe of the place. And, you know, I think that...

Find our exits. We got to know your exit before you fucking go in. I know that. Is pixel playing tonight? Yeah, I think that, yeah, that's what the fucking said on the billboard. And you would have seen that as you were coming in, as you descended the Rhapsody towards the planet of Cherokee in Paradise City. You were lined with those same billboards, and you saw a ton of stuff. for different shows going on.

One prominently featuring that tonight's performance at the Glitz Room was by Pixel Pop. Another, just with the simple tagline, which one is it, with these two strange, like amalgam silhouettes on a billboard, almost look like they're crossed facing each other.

And a couple other strange billboards. And cool, eventive shows. for beach clubs, bars, other shows, things like that, as you were descending onto the planet. So you do in fact know that Pixel Pop is performing this evening. Well, in that case, then, I guess I'll get cleaned up and ready to go. Is there anything else that we need to prep beforehand? I need to put my console and set it up with the TV.

What? In case, we want to play some games or whatever. Oh, shit. Okay? I just want everyone understand. The top priority is maintaining our cover. Y'all understand. We're playing the role. Sagio was right.

I mean, these guys are fucking actual professional fucking red belts. It's going to be dangerous. He was, you know, running a fucking glorified crew down there. They're going to try to get me liquored up or worse. And I got to play the fucking part. So I need the rest of you to keep your fucking wits about it. And that means no throwing hands unless absolutely necessary. The moment we do, our cover is blown.

All right. I've been doing breathing exercises, like you told me. I've been trying to do those water things, the air, the sun ray things. Be the Phoenix. It's not, it's not my nature, but I'm trying to work on my temper. It's going okay. And this is our only shot if we blow it. I don't think we're going to have a shot at this guy.

And then we got to start back from the fucking ground. Work our way back up through the fucking city. So, I just, not to bring down the mood, but I want everyone to understand what it's- Oh, you're fucking right. You're right. Okay, I'm gonna get, uh, I'm gonna get cleaned up. I'm gonna finish this drink, and then I'm gonna shower and get dressed. Why aren't there any ports on the back of this hotel TV?

actually not found a hotel TV. This is fucking horse shit. Where did they buy this? You have spent some significant amount of time looking for the hotel TV. You have not yet been able to locate it until eventually you move to the couch in frustration. You realize that right as this crescent kind of meets its center seems to be a little electronic hub with a small emblem that reflects kind of a TV. And as you press it, the window that reflects the ocean to the outside almost frosts for a moment until Descending from the ceiling is the largest TV. I mean you grew up relatively well off

Someone say opulently yes and yet this you find impressive as this massive screen descends and Extends ceiling to floor as its sound system kicks on Boom Welcome mr. Rock Exactly right, exactly right. As this massive, beautiful screen kicks on, and you find that it flips open and it opens a port where you can, where you can, in fact, plug in.

Oh, thank God. You think I want to watch 60 minutes of I wait till the very last second to get dressed. But when I do, I look like a legacy hire. higher. Yeah, you have, strangely that mistoned blue suit on with like white athletic socks and

loafers underneath. And the pants are just the wrong length where you can see the socks. And it's all extremely jarring and throws it off. But you do wait to the very last second and you begin to get ready. You're able to finish your drinks, head to your different rooms. There is a large room specifically for Mr. Rye, which is enormous.

A bed bigger than a king bed. You climb onto the edge and you almost have to crawl to get to the center of it before you actually arrive. I was sort of lay there for a few minutes before I could get in the shower. Yeah. Just kind of like realizing that like we're on a job, but this is just like, ridiculously nice. Take it a moment. You have to be fucking loaded to experience stuff like this.

So Red's gonna try to like just take in some of the luxury while we're here. This is like a once in a lifetime opportunity for us. Yeah, 100%. You know that when you turned in Big Thunder, you'd made mention of the fact that you could keep the entire ship and crew running for about four months. You know with the amount you're spending on this, that's dwindled extremely rapidly. Something closer to a week. So you really appreciate that this might be the last time this happens for him if he's for a long time

But but but this is his 50th seventh time and a lifetime Time and so he's taking full granted the entire experience And so you do that you're able to kind of like relax recline into the bed and for a moment just before you change you think about the the trip here The mall everything you've been in through so far The Seedy Love Hotel the time spent there and you just let these luxurious covers kind of nestle under you. It's like the experience of sleeping on a cloud almost doesn't quite cover it. It's the exact level of firm that you want.

It's got the exact right bounce in it. It almost just seems to mold perfectly to your form as every inch of you feels perfectly supported and nestled like you're in just one perfect hug in your bed. And you've never quite felt, you've never quite felt material this nice as you lay there kind of on your back. You almost run your hands across the sheets. And it gives you this almost like tickly, tingley sensation through the palms of your hands as you, as you rest there. Before eventually, you make your way into the bathroom. look to take a shower, whatever you'd like to do to get ready, and this is exactly as luxurious

as everything else you've seen so far. This room is almost patterned and exclusive gold. Tiled floors cool to the touch, but just the right amount as you walk in, as you're just coming in for the day. You can make your way into the shower, which is a room that's about as big as the entire hotel room was you were in before on Macquaro, just in this shower alone. As you hit a couple buttons, mist erupts from all around you as you start to wash yourself and get ready for the night. And as you leave the shower, you find that the floor has actually turned to warm as you step out.

Oh, yeah. Having done the shower, it's responding to your routine as you go in and out, attempting to as best as it can meet every need that you have before you request it. I, despite this being so nice, this doesn't stop me from taking my drink in, and I enjoy shower beer. Hell yeah. As I shower. You're crazy if you think we're going to do that. Yeah, absolutely.

It has a shower beer as she showers. Hell yeah. And that's how you know you're on vacation. You have a similar experience. There's a bathroom on the other side. Multiple rooms, multiple bathrooms. You know, should you compare, you would know that this one is just a markedly less lavish as the one. that Mr. Rye has found himself in.

But still that same almost kind of like rainforest mist shower. With different settings, if you want a more like strong pour down, like over the top, pressured, thank you water shower, you absolutely can get that. A full shelf, a bench you can sit on. You can enjoy yourself as the steam fills the room and you sit there in the shower, enjoying your shower here. You know it's a good shower when it's got a bench. Oh, yeah.

Absolutely. Yeah, I would clean up quickly knowing that we want to get there because if it was like afternoon when we were landing, the sun's probably setting pretty soon. And so like I would get dressed as quickly as possible. And I would have, you know, a vest, a tie, no coat, slacks and nice shoes. And I'm a little stiff, but I would have like spent the hours to travel

to kind of like go into our, you know, not gymnasium on the ship, but like our exercise room. Yeah. And just kind of like limber up and kind of flex into the, my best. Yeah, I'll get, so like, you know, Rhett normally keeps his hair sort of pulled back and kind of slick back,

but I got a new product that makes it is very shiny. Oh yeah, very greasy, and I use a ton of it, and I really pull it back, and it is just like super shiny and slick. And I'll get in my fanciest outfit that I got with the fur, line collar, and the cane and the hat. and the suit

and just getting my full regalia for our first impression. You get completely decked out, a large fur wrapped around you, the hat with a feather, your cane. Everyone takes just a little bit of time to enjoy their surroundings. The energy drink made me sleepy.

And so I took a brief nap while trying to play Witcher 2149. Jesus. That's very funny. 2112, Witcher 2112. And then and then if I wake up a little

late and I hurry over. You're awoken by everyone meeting back in the main room ready to go. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh shit, oh shit! So I run into the bathroom. I don't have time for the luxury shower. I just grab a can and I shake it up. You don't even wet a hand towel. You don't even wet a hand towel to clean yourself. You just hit a little prep spread. And perfect.

100%. And you put your clothes on immediately pit stains in the instantly. I would get all of my hair back. I would put it into like a ponytail, what I have. And there wouldn't be enough because it's like it's short. And so there'd be kind of like one or like a couple little thing that's out and hanging in front of my face. And the rest of it is all pulled back into a ponytail.

Yeah, yeah. Not quite like looped bangs, but just sections of hair that like feel down. Yeah, one little thing in front of my face. Absolutely. I'd be dressed just a little fancier than my driving outfit because I know that I would be going into a club, and I don't want to look like I'm in some weird, like, driver's uniform while I'm just, like, in a club.

I still want to look like I worked for Mr. Rye, but I'm also ready to accompany him and not be an embarrassment. You have the same style of suit on, but the vest that completes it is a color that complements the suit that Mr. Rye is wearing currently, almost like this plum color with this outside kind of, like, light patterning when you look close enough and it catches the light. It kind of like dances in it for a moment. And you have this gold pocket watch that ties to the center. Nice.

That sits right in your front vest pocket that kind of completes this a little more upscale look and gives you a nice little kind of nod to still be on the clock. And the only thing that I would do with my hair is just like a little bit of moose and like run my hands through my hair just to kind of make it look a little bit more intentional as opposed to the usual where I don't do anything with my hair. Yeah. I would look a little, just a little sharper. Yeah.

You're all able to catch a little Paradise Palm, Paradise Palm Bomb. Yeah. And as you, in this kind of like black little container with this palm tree logo on it, this like tanned palm tree logo, you open it and you can run this kind of glistened. gel that allows you to style it in whatever format, whatever way you'd like to. Just a little bit more tame than usual. Yeah, and it's nothing crazy. You're not like super boxed in, nothing like that.

It's just kind of the strands are all going. The strands are all growing in the same direction. They all have the same plan tonight. And everyone looks fantastic. And you'll make your way back downstairs. Should you be ready to leave? Yeah, I'm ready. You'll make your way back down the elevator.

You'll walk that long hallway that runs just to your Olympian penthouse suite, a hallway with no other doors that line the rooms. This level is reserved exclusively for you. As you make your way back to the elevator, it'll take you back down, and you'll look out and you'll see that same crystal clear, gorgeous blue oceans that you hover above. You'll land on the main floor, walk past those same, shimmering, brighter than slate, but like this kind of grayish marble sheen,

and you all catch the sharp reflection of yourselves in the floor as you walk out, almost in slow-mo. Yes. To the... You make your way back out. And the second... You're fucking good. The second they see you crest the corner instantly, that same ominous. Barry starts to race out the out towards wherever they took the car so that by the time you

actually bridge the gap to the front your vehicle is already back and ready and waiting for you I put on my driver's gloves mr. Rye thank you co Ziggy son you go and then once everybody settled yeah I make a show of asking Mr. Rye where he'd like to go Even though I know very well where we're headed. I think we're going to the glitch room tonight, Pike. Yes, sir. And just let her purr to life. And when we're ready, I just ease her out.

I give a glare to Barry. Oh, ma'am, is there anything you need? I don't say anything. And I just get in the front seat with Mike Love. Oh, no, I love her. Very stricken. As he follows back, you all make your way into the car. Pike, the driver's seat code, you take shotgun.

You take space rifle as it would. And Rhett and Ziggy clamor into the back. It is now firmly nighttime. There's still kind of like a starry sky illuminates the area and the beautiful thrum of lights all throughout this city. create this gorgeous, like neon space roadways as you carry through. And you make your way casually, you know, enjoying the atmosphere, enjoying the area. As you head towards, you punched into the nav, you head towards the glitz room,

and you navigate your way there. It doesn't take long at all before you arrive. and once you pull the car in and you see you pull up to the front once again you have the option they'll take the car you have the option to valet yeah that's fine in this this this red doorway the glitz room in this kind of like laser-etched sprawl illuminated in this neon like off-red almost pinkish kind of glow with a Globelin sitting in like a martini glass kicking her leg out and back down and out and back down. In a moving hologram sign announcing that tonight, Pixel Pop and the holograms are playing.

That's pretty cool. Yeah. Hell yeah, it is. All right. Here we are. And I'll wait for my door to be open. As you should. And you sit there, arms crossed, waiting for the door to be able.

I lean forward and I open the door just a little bit, and then I see that. Oh, shit. Close the door. Yeah, I'll open the door. And I will get out, and I will act like as confident as ever acted in his life. And I would sort of just take a few steps, just kind of take it all in. Yeah. And wait for the rest of my associates to join me.

I'll shut the door behind once Zicki gets out as well. Yeah. I get out. I accidentally slip my loafer off again, trying to get out of the car. But I get it on. I'll reach in and grab it for you. They're a little big. Here you go, sir.

Oh, thank you. I close the door. Are they belaying it? Yes. Yeah, yeah. They'll take some. I'm with you. I'll go.

Coe's probably in the lead. I'm probably bringing up the rear. Yeah, I'll walk up. You know, if there's a bouncer or something, I'll just give them a nod and I'll open the door for them if there's not a dorm in there and I'll make sure that I'm in front I'm basically in front and I'm casing I'm taking you keeping an eye out for entrances and exits and I'll sort of nod at people you know not at the staff of the club as we walk through as soon as you enter energetic music music hits you as the darkness around you is filled with countless people

dancing drinking and partying the night away under the flashing neon lights that move rapidly to the beat of the music. There are a wide variety of species here, but the largest percentage is made up of globlins. A small goblin-looking people with large ears, sharp teeth, pointed noses, and most importantly, glowing neon skin and hair that ranges a wide array of colors, including neon green, blue, yellow, pink, orange, purple, teal.

There are also many flambago here. A flamingo-like avian species with bright colorful plumage and traits of parrots and other tropical birds. Bars line many of the walls and luxurious alcoves are tucked into the sides of the club, more out of the way from the vibrancy and energy. Along with the various cocktails that glow with strange neon hues, you see a variety of drugs being used before your eyes. from the glittery dust of glimmer to the streaking crimson veins of red line. Most of the parties who pass, you have two red dots on their neck from usage of the drug.

Catwalks criss-cross above you, filled with dancers adorned in pulsing light tech, and hanging cages contain Globlin cage dancers clearly employed by the club, thrashing about with unbursed. joy and regularly winking and waving at those below at the far end of the club is a large stage flanked by dozens of flickering screens that look almost like a stacked arcade cabinets sound tech seemed to be setting up for a show happening tonight which you can only presume will be performed by pixel pop get get out of the way hey no fuck don't look at him go thank you don't look at him You move into the Glitz Room and with the extreme just lavish co-moving people out of the way, the just lavish nature of red, and possibly the news that these big-time music producers have landed and checked in at the Golden God, it's not long before very quickly a small globulin in a vest. and Slacks walks up to you and says, good evening, good evening, gentlemen.

How can we take care of you this evening? Mr. Rye would like some table service. We'd like your finest VIP section, please. Oh, we'd be happy. We'd be happy to take you there. Please, let me walk you up to the section. We got a nice, a roped off area just for you. It has its own bar, exclusive service to you.

We'll get you a couch section and anything you could want. We'd be happy to get it over to you. This is a beautiful club in all my years running Rhapsody Records. I haven't seen a place quite like this. Oh, well, thank you, Mr. Wright. Thank you. It's all Mr. Weedelvox's operation. So, of course.

But from someone such as yourself, a great compliment. Thank you. It's our pleasure to take care of. you this evening at the Glitz Room. Thank you, so. Oh, thank you, thank you. I appreciate that. Excellent.

Follow me. I'll take you and your, you and your accompaniment up to the room, and this one's with you as well. Oh, yeah, this is my son. Oh, of course, of course, Mr. Rice's son. Well, please, anything... Is there a problem here?

No, no, absolutely not. No, we're happy to please, anything we could do. Anything you could think of? The nicest VIP room you got. Your hearts, your heart's desired right up here. Please, can I offer you any night rain, some, I don't know if it's your speed, a little red line, anything you'd want. You want it? Why don't you just settle in?

You can let me know. I'll send some people over to you, anything you can think of. Please. It's night rain the signature drink? Night rain is the signature drink of the Glitzroom, absolutely. It's delicious. You're going to love it. We'll take four.

A round of night rain. I'll have that right over. to you. And do you make sure there's no, no one's spiking the drink with anything. Mr. Rye is a very powerful man. Not, if you want, right at the bar here, right at the bar here, miss, I haven't prepared. You can watch them do it. Nobody will touch the stuff.

When we sit down, when I get my Mr. Rett to sit down, I'd like your security to take me around to all the X's just so I can make sure I'm ready to get Mr. Rye out of here in case anything goes wrong. It's not gonna happen, but I need to make sure I'm prepared. We'll be happy to show you around the floor plan of the room here that we're in and anything we can point out anywhere of a tactical advantage, if that's your aim. All right. I am very much in this position letting Coe take the lead as the head of security since I'm

just the driver and I am not speaking unless spoken to or unless Mr. Rye or his son were to address me. I am just there. very clearly hired help. Absolutely. His teal cobalt skin almost draws this light off of it

as he walks you up. There are two larger bouncers, as it were, right on the other end of just a classic roped-off area as one opens it and he guides your party through and then the other closes it behind you as you walk up to a very secure section with a circular booth walk in in this red leather couch. As promised, just right kind of on the back of the wall in the section you're in,

a private VIP bar right there already has begun. A clawedarin behind the bar. The claws grabbing at drinks to make. mixed together to the night rain, definitely moving as her hair kind of sway side to side. As she mixes the drinks, you take your seats in this circular, the circular couch booth area as you're seated. And then he will also take you around as you explore the exits of the room. I walk up to this guy. Oh, and one more thing. Where's the bathroom? The bathrooms, we can take you there as well.

All right. Okay. Okay. Yeah. I'll be all right. And so I'll wait. I'll basically make sure I understand where all the exits are. So anything goes wrong.

And then I'll go back and I'll join my friends and wait for the show to start. If you guys need anything else, the name's Magli. I'm happy to take care of you. You can wave me down. You can give me a shout. But everyone here, before you can even want it, it'll be at your table. Thanks, Magley. Thanks, Mugley.

And the night we'll go on with, for a little bit, as this concert's kind of getting, the show is kind of getting prepared and it's getting ready. Across the floor, you see all these patrons of the Glitzeron dancing to the music, two massive speakers on either end of this stage, with two more elevated, not connected, almost floating there, pointed down directly at the room. with these beautiful neon red electric glow to it as the music just kind of pulses out at the room.

All throughout this first section of the evening, you have different globlins. Some of the dancers from the cages come up, bringing drinks. You've been served night rain. In different moments, they'll come up, and with maybe even just a little sheet that covers the table, they'll show a section an injector of a red line offering to you at any point. As well as glimmer.

I'll start with the night, Ranford for tonight. Thank you. Yes, sir? And the night will continue on and you can continue to drink and joy to your heart's content. You can partake in drugs if you'd like to. Not yet. Not yet, not yet. As you were, but they take very

exceptional care of you. as you hang out. I'll kind of look at, as soon as I feel like we're more or less alone, right? And like, you know, we're being left to our VIP area, right? Our bottle service area. I'll kind of nonchalantly lean into the group and say, all right.

Now listen, I've got a little bit of experience with places like this. And if we want to get... That doesn't fucking surprise me. If we want to get her attention, and I'm being very intentional not to say, any nicknames. All we have to do is casually mention who we are to some of the dancers, the bartenders, the waitresses.

Word will spread organically. Oh, like gossiping that there's a big fucking producer. That's exactly right. Just pretend that you and I have maybe had a couple drinks and we mentioned who we work for. We shouldn't fucking pretend. Let's have a couple fucking drinks. You know, it's hard to say no. I'm there with you.

Just, you know, should we invite people in to talk to? Come on. I got this. I'm going to, oh, go. No, all I'm saying is we're going to put the information out there and make them come to us. All right? So I'll just sit right here and I'll let you all bring them to me. I am going to look for a global.

Noblen dancer, either on one of the catwalks, probably the cage won't kick out, but one on the catwalks, who's very clearly an employee of the, who I think to be an employee. Yep. But I'm able to see one. Yeah, I would say you absolutely find one

that kind of has this like orangish, orangeish tint neon with these strappy, like leather heeled boots that come up, white boots with this blonde hair tied up into a high pony, that rests at the back of her head and a section of bangs that come down just covering her forehead. As she's dancing, dancing there, as you approach. I'm just going to, I'm not approaching.

I'm just going to make eye contact, and I'm just going to keep my eyes on her until she kind of reckoned, like she's looking around until we make eye contact. As I'll do that, I'll do, give her a little, and I'm going to give her a little, and that's it. And then, you know, she kind of like lets the song play out in the cage, and then she'll walk down and she begins to kind of saunter on over to you. It's that fucking easy, say, yeah. Taking notes? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

I'm gonna go get another drink. And I start making my way towards the bar as this finish is playing out. No, they're gonna come to you, sit down. No, I want another drink. Let him go. Let him go. Okay, we all, we're all doing our,

I, uh, I'll turn and I'll make a few steps over to the bar tender and I'll be like, sup you do that you make you ready to the bar and you see the the claudan they're making drinks

hello could I have a gex I am Ziggy and I will be the inheritor of a great fortune because my stepdad is red rye oh you don't say

that's me I'm going to inherit all that money Well, aren't you handsome? Here. That's what I thought. And her arm definitely and agilely stretches out as she puts the geeks, the platinum gecks right in front of you in the VIP section. They only have the finest for you. I gave her a wink, but I'm wearing my sunglasses, so nothing happens. And then I turn around feeling extremely confident and pleased with my performance.

I love your chosen tie. You have a great look this evening. I don't hear her. Instead, I just walk back with it. It's sprinkled. I feel like I've done everything that I need to do, and I make my way. I got it, Ned.

We're doing just fine. The Globlin walks up to you, Co. Hi. How are you? Oh. This is, this is, this is Mr. Rett Rye of Rhapsody Records, and he wanted to talk to you pretty lady. Oh, well, part of.

Pardon me and she'll talk me up too much. She'll hop on the seat and then shuffle over top of your, assuming you took a seat coach, she'll shuffle over top of your lap crossing it as she moves to sit right next to Rhett Rye. And she'll almost lightly change the shade of pink. Whoa. Hi. What can I do for you?

I'm Red. It's a pleasure to meet you. Oh, the pleasure's mine. Why don't you sit with us? Sure a drink. I'd love to. Can we get two night rains, please? Oh, okay.

And what do you do? Well, I don't like to talk to myself to talk myself up too much, but I'm a record producer. Founder and owner of Rhapsody Records, been in business for 35 years. Rhapsody Records. Oh, and she kind of like will walk some fingers up your arm and kind of like nestle with the side of you and... Okay, Rick, get it, brother?

I know. I'm... And what do you, uh... What do you produce? Anything I've heard? Uh, I mean, uh, T. Rex is our latest signin. I don't know if you're into heavy metal or not. Oh. Oh.

But we're looking to expand into some, uh, cynthia pop stuff. If you know what I mean. Well, you've come to the right place. If you ever need backup dancers, I'm your girl. Well, now that you mention it, we do have a few music video shoots coming up, so I'll like look her up and down. Oh. I think you've gotten look. If you happen to know of any, you know, pop stars or musicians that might be looking to get signed, I'm always happened to listen, you see.

Have you ever heard of the Rhapsody? I've not heard of the Rhapsody, but I would love to. It's the grand cosmic melody that extends throughout the galaxy, and it speaks to me. It tells me where all the greatest music of the galaxy is, and I just, when she speaks to me, I hear it. And I just, I don't know how, I don't know why. I don't know why I got this lucky. I just know when someone's got it. It's when the Rhapsody is speaking through a musician,

I can just hear it and I sign them on the spot. Oh, you are so powerful. Oh, well, that's not what I'm saying. But, you know, hey, I'll let you draw your own conclusions, and I'm not trying to brag, but... It's been speaking to me since I was just a boy. Well, you let me know. when I can audition for you because I'll do anything for an audition.

Let me get some of my friends. Let me get some of my girls. I'll bring them right back up here. And anything, anything you need will take care of you. Well, again, I appreciate that. If you have more friends that have the look, you know, we can, you can speak to my business associates and we'll get you added to the list of potential talent for the music video. I also help.

This is my son. Oh, oh, your son, you said. Oh, well, aren't you handsome? Thank you, thank you. Yeah, I do interviews too. They're really, I look for the sparkle ratio and the star vibe, you know, all that. Everything he just said.

Wow. Teaching them the family business, so to speak. She'll turn to Zieg for a moment, and the pink will start to fade away, just a little bit. But she'll give you the same. All I put my arm around her and grab her, you know. Oh, no. No, I'm not hoverhand.

Yeah, no, I don't, I'm not hoverhand right now. Oh, no, she knows it. Um. I'm really trying to sell, sell this thing, right? Yeah. And I think that like, um, I, I would basic, uh, I'll turn to, um, I'll turn to Pike and I'll say, uh, make sure to get her info and add her to the database. Uh, yes, sir, Mr. Rye. Understood.

Why don't I, why don't I, why don't I? get some of the other dancers up here and parade them in front of you and you can tell us how well we move mr. what do you think Zickey yeah that while while this is happening all right while I'll just say because I didn't explain it before but they um when when they before this even happens when they bring the night rain to your uh to table um it's this beautiful like deep blue glass um that whatever uh It almost kind of like fizzes on the side and it creates these glowing arcs that like dribble the liquid back in the top and make it almost look like the cup is raining as you drink from it when it's poured out. It's absolutely phenomenally delicious. It's refreshing. It has a little bit of a like a citrus of bite to it. And it just hits you perfectly in the core and sits amazing. And take your time.

Make sure to tell all your friends if you got any backstage too. Just let them know. You know, it's an open door policy here at Rhapsody Records. You know, hey, I think everyone deserves a chance to sing. But me especially, right, Mr. Rott? Well, you especially as a backup dancer, absolutely right. That's correct. I'll be back as soon as I can.

And she'll race off that kind of like blonde ponytail shaking as she saunters. But she races off after she moves very slowly out of the booth once again across your lap. As she'll hit and she'll move slowly

until the rope and then race off. Just kind of like really really swaying side to side. Strangely good at being fucking scumbags. How'd I do? You're fucking great. Holy shit. Who the fuck are you?

I'm retry. Record produce. Fuck! Owner of Rhapsody Records. You know who I am. Co. Saxon. Yeah, I mean, yeah. Fuck, though.

That was great. We're pretty fucking good at this. With any luck, world will spread like fucking wildfire. Yeah. Oh. Everyone in this fucking club is going to know. Right?

Is that what you fucking said? They're all going to start fucking gossiping? What? What was that? They're all going to start gossiping? Uh, yeah, yeah, it'll give it time. It'll take its course, yeah. You all right?

Yeah, yeah, I'm okay. And I would say that you would have noticed, like, when you told me to get her information that I was a little distracted. Okay. And I'm sitting closer to Coe than you while you're talking to the Globlins. And Coe would notice that I'm drinking a little heavier than I might normally. Mm-hmm. Are you feeling all right? I thought, I mean, this is your whole plan.

I mean, I'm gonna be sharp. I thought I could get wasted, because I know I can fucking fight wasted. I'm not drunk. I'll be all right, I'm just, I'm trying not to be distracted. Are you? I look at, I look at like Ziggy, get a sense.

I look at like red. What, what's that look you're giving me? Is this, is he, is he feeling wistful again? This is Pike we're talking about. He's just an introspective kind of guy. He's thoughtful. That's all. Right, Mike?

You're a thoughtful guy. Right now, what are you thinking about? Are you fucking kidding me, buddy? Look, you know, she, she went through a phase. This was her scene for a while. Oh my fucking God, it's about the girl again. I'm sorry. What?

Hey, we don't have to worry about it. Look at all these girls, Pike. I mean, look at all these fucking girls, Pike! Look at these! I'm focused. You're rich and famous! I'm focused. She was a coworker, Pike.

Get over it, man. I'm focused. But I'll take another drink. Yeah, get him another drink. Can we have the hike being fucking hung up on her? I mean, I presume you fucking know. Of course. But like, here's the thing, right?

Like, it's now the fucking time? Well, let the man be wistful, damn it. I guess this is the fucking place. Is it a crime? Is it a crime? Just what I'm saying is he's doing a great fucking job. He's doing a great fucking job. Plake, don't fucking blow this is your idea.

My head is in the game, all right? It's fine. Forget I said anything. Okay, just don't fucking blow it. There's a lot of good looking ladies around here, Pike. I think our reputation is actually as spreading. There are people filling out the contact form on our website. Look at this.

People actually can feel those out? This is one hell of a headshot. I mean, her head's barely in it. Well, that's, I mean, good news. Just see, see if any of them are pixels. Oh, oh. Do I see pixel having filled out the form of the website, the contact us for RAPCity Records?

You see several resumes that have come in, all with photos attached. and they say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Yeah. Resumays have no words, but the pictures speak volumes. Okay. You do not, however, see a submission from Pixel. Not yet. Not yet. Dad. If we're lucky, she'll just waltz right over to us. I think we've done our job for now.

I think we just gotta. We'll see how fucking good she is. Maybe she's actually not bad. actually not bad. We'll wait for her to go on stage and we'll, you know, see how she is. Either way, I don't think we're going to get her attention until after the show. Yeah, let's just let it simmer. But make me ask you the question, Pike. Heads in the game. Look at me here. Look at all this. I'm focused. Okay. You sit there enjoying the glitz room for 20, 30 more minutes. You can't finish a glass or as you finish a glass before it hits the table and the next

drinks in front of you. You never have to ask. With the girl that you had very successfully put the moves on before. You sent her back now about. I'm convinced. Yeah, you don't have to rule for it. I'm convinced. At your table, if you would have allowed this.

In between each of you, there are now two Globlins sitting, giggling, just flocked around in the bench with you. I rolled a flirt basically for the next hour. Yeah, yeah, you do it. Yeah, roll an advantage, roll advantage. Some hot stuff. Performance, deception, whatever you'd like. Yeah, 10. Regardless.

Yeah, regardless. You're exceptional. Exactly right. All these dancers, they've joined you at the table, not a one over with four three. All this like just perfect hair, blondes, redheads, brunettes and these different hues ranging from kind of teal, cobalt into these pinks.

A lot of them as they move towards red, they kind of begin to shift more towards this, this blushed color, Hank. And you enjoy the night like this until suddenly the neon lights of the club go out. And the only illumination is from the cocktails, Glotech and the Globlins. An occasional Solari in the crowd. The room cheers as suddenly neon light floods the club as all of the shimmering screens that flanked the stage alight with pixelated shapes and colors.

The stage is a prismatic light show as a small female globulin stands at its center before a microphone. And holding a glimmering kitar, her massive mane of wavy, bright neon yellow hair with an undercut of pink is nearly the same size as her as her neon green body, which is dressed in a teal and magenta body suit adorned with a holographic tank top and skirt, Both of which match the massive bow fastened in her frizzy locks. Large star-shaped earrings hanging from her oversized ears, both of which are as pink as her bright lipstick. Behind hers her backing hologram band of literal holograms. A muscular poodle leka holds a guitar, a fashionable Zorbrack holds a saxophone, a bubbly oozoid holds a bass guitar and a forearmed an atron sits behind an electric drum kit. Holding microphones are two backup singers, a Gorgonite and a Claudein.

All of them are made of light, shimmering and flickering holograms, despite moving as if they were living people. Pixel presses a chord on her guitar kicking off the first number as she opens her mouth, filled with sharp teeth, and begins to sing a light and poppy song that the crowd goes wild to. Her voice and music is beautiful as it fills. the venue and the concert continues. Damn. Okay. Wow, she's pretty good. Oh my God.

I'm no record. Oh, no, I am a record. Shut up. This, you know, she's got it. The Rhapsody, it's speaking to me. I have like a little algorithm up. Look at the star power ratings on this. They're through the roof.

And I want to kind of very obviously put on a show for the girls that are with us. Yeah. And like, wow, she's got it. She's something else, ain't she? Absolutely. I mean, you know, this is a bit of a bop. They should call her Pixel Bop. This sounds really similar.

This sounds kind of like it's inspired by Zeta Max. Oh, yeah, Zeta Max. Yeah, Zeta Max. This sounds just like it's a banger. Crazy. Is that a song? Uh-huh. Yeah.

You don't know, you don't know Zatamax? Have I heard of Zatamax? Um, I feel like everyone would know Zatamax. I feel like you probably like know the name. You might not really recognize the music, but you'd probably recognize the name. Oh, yeah, Zeta Max, he and I, we go way back. That's because you own a record, late. That's right.

Years, years I've known old Zaynum. Yeah. Let me tell you. And I'll get like, kind of swept up doing it as like a certain point. Like as soon as like maybe it hits like a big like, like, when the sax like comes in and the, and the guy's like playing, all like get up and like scream or throat the horns. Yeah. You're like, yeah. I mean, I'll kind of sit back down and I like cross my arms and I'm like, yeah, the Rhapsody speaks to me too.

and the music speaks to me. Yeah. Blotting after a solo, right? And yeah, I would just kind of vibe out to the, like, I'm a little surprised given how sleazy this place is that like the music is kind of as like bright and poppy and fun. And I think that like I'm, Mikey's impressed, this is, this bobs. And I think that, yeah, I think that I'm surprised at how good it is.

And it's almost like, oh man, it's a bummer that this is all. live. Because she's actually pretty fucking good. Right, right. She's actually pretty fucking good. I'll be holding my grid boy up and taking like video recordings and like getting shots of the crowd, shots of the ladies who've joined us, that sort of thing. I'm enjoying the music. Um, I would be making airs to be listening very intently and I'll be like, oh yeah, uh-huh, uh-huh, oh. Yep, know that. That's right. Almost like studiously. Yeah, but basically make it very obvious that,

that I'm interested and kind of, and some, it is genuine, right? But basically like, trying to make sure that they know that I like, am liking less. Yeah. Hoping that maybe, you know, they gossip. And the girls are definitely like picking up on the vibe. They're all here very interested in kind of tending to you, being in your, being in your kind of gravitational pull as it were.

They want to be around that influence, right? And they're definitely picking up the vibes as you see. seem to respond to like certain girls or to the show that's now happening in front of you. And they'll have been coming and going from the area constantly, like running back and forth. You'll see new girls, you'll see others will leave and come, but most end up right by you.

And you'll definitely like, if they're chattering, oh, he's so cute. Stuff like that as you enjoy the show. In between the songs, do I know, do I know perhaps like a species, species of the, of the girl. Would you have told me that? Oh, I don't think I did.

Okay. I don't think I did. Okay. Then I am going to, I'm going to go out and, I'm going to like go out into the crowd. I'm going to just find someone at random. I'll probably find a, um, I'll probably try to find a Solari. And if there's some like, you know, L.A. as fuck looking like Solari woman, I'm gonna like go out and like effectively try to wing man it and try to basically

like invite her back into the into the art table and like sit her down next to pike and I'll try to find that I don't know if I can find that um roll an investigation check but I use your charisma I've got that charisma it still fails I do actually I haven't provision in charisma I mean investigation. Oh, is that, is that screw you then? If I, no, no, no, let's go. Okay, okay, okay. Well, still not a ton. It's six plus, uh, uh, uh, uh, three, nine. Hmm. Oh, Chris, wait, hold on, four plus three, plus two. It should be 12 plus two to do. Yeah. Okay, but yeah. Got it. Yeah, nine. I'd say you kind of

shift your way through the crowd and you know, you've been keeping a kind of a weathered eye on. the crowd, not just for kind of what's going on, but you've been scope in the room. So you have some sense of kind of like some of the players, the Movers and Goers, but you got a little bit of a wandering eye as well. Yeah. And I'd say before too long, you're able to find this... I can't remember so vivant heart of the song that play. I'm like... This beautiful Solari woman with this long, like, burnt orange kind of hair.

that turns into this deeper red as it goes down. And she has large bosom and exceptional measurements, that of which match your classic L.A., exactly what you're looking for. I'll give her the old sup. What's your name? Cool, I think you like my buddy. And like to say, hey, we got a thing.

Ultimate Wing gal. And it's when you gesture up to the sectioned off VIP area. I work for a record producer. Yeah, that gets it done. That gets the job done. She follows you immediately, once again, pass the rope, up just two or three steps, while the concert kind of rages behind you. And it's when you get back to the table with her that I'm going to ask everyone to make a wisdom-saving throw.

Oh, shit. What? Oh my god. Come on, come like, come on, come on. Wow, you got the Natty. Unbelievable. 13. Ritz locked in.

I'm 13. I was one off. Wisdom saving throw, you say? Not too bad. Not too bad. Somehow I keep it together. I get a natural one. I got a 23.

I also got a 23. Nice. The two of you are just enjoying the show. You feel the drinks are hitting you. You're a little tipsy. You're feeling the classic kind of. of like, you know, like waves beating at the sand. The, the, you're having fun.

You're having a good time. Coe and Ziggy, you feel very much this draw. Something about the night, something about the show, something about Paradise City, the clothes, the lavishness, the women, something about it all. Your inhibitions are just melting away. and you are you're still within your ruse you are very much interested

in really kicking the party up. You want your inhibitions have fallen away. You want to accept that things offered to you. You're in a very yes mood. Yeah. This is my buddy pike. You look like you do a lot of drugs. What's the good shit around here?

Wow. Nothing hits quite as hard as red line, but glimmer's pretty good too if nose is your style. Hey there, fella. This is my buddy Pike. Hey, you should see his car. You're pretty handsome. What is it that you do? I drive. That's a hot thing to say. Isn't it?

You should see him fight. Good with your hands, are you? If a bar fight breaks out, he's going to kick him. So he will literally send a motherfucker to a hospital. I think I would like, if I'm feeling like susceptible, I would say like I'll give like a pike and flash a grain. I'll say like, uh, get me if you need me, this music is too fucking good. I got, I'm gonna go fucking dance.

And I just go out into the fucking crowd. I just disappear and I rage. If Coe is gone for the rest of the concert. For the rest of the concert. For the rest of the concert. Yeah, she's taking seat in the booth. I will nonchalant. You know, sticking to the plan and playing the part and also being a bit tipsy, put my left arm around her to make her feel welcome.

And, and again, I'm acting like I don't care because, quite frankly, I really don't. But I'm playing the part and I'm being aloof and I'm just, you know. God, somehow that's even more attractive. You know, I'll ask her her name, ask if I can get her a drink. But, like, I'm very disinterested. And, like, you know, I'm definitely a little tipsy. And I am enjoying the music, but I'm kind of, you know, giving her a little bit of a cold shoulder. You know, even though I've got my arm around her.

The harder you keep them away, the more they want you. And she seems interested in you. And she'll sit there and enjoy the evening in your company with the rest of the gang for as long as that'll carry on. Coe, you are center dance floor. The ties coming down, unbuttoning. You dropped three buttons. I was going to say it.

You three buttons down, you're on beach time, baby. I spend no more than five than one song dancing per person. I dislike this stuff. And just like just absolutely. I am feeling the music. I don't know if it's the night. I don't know if it's the music that is making me feel this. But if someone hands me something, I'm going to drink it.

I'm going to do it. I don't give a fuck. Jesus. There's magic over me. Roll in athletics or acrobatics check. I think they failed very fast. Oh, you guys definitely pass. You roll like a 23 and a 20th and a 20th.

I got a 23. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I got a five. And so at a certain point you're gonna turn over and I'm at the bartender with the Claudeau-Daron. I'm like, kind of like, how does this work? How does this work? My dad's very famous and successful. Oh no. Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah, I'll do co first and then we'll do it. Yeah. That's phenomenal. I was just gonna say the same fucking thing. fucking thing. 19. This is the greatest moment of our lives. Yeah.

19. Yeah. 19. So the 19. You are on the dance floor just destroying it. You're like a cat on the prowl. The way in which you move your body agilely out on the floor,

you're absolutely electric to be around. And people are gravitating towards you to be in the sphere of the movement. as you're just enjoying the concert, you're tearing it up. It's unbelievable, the grace you're moving with on the floor. Ziggy. Yeah. I don't know how else to say this, but you cut lines on the bar top.

Some mysterious substance. Yeah, for sure, glimmer. It's glimmer. It's almost like this shimmering kind of, like soft-toned multi-colored dust. It's like holographic glitter. You know, I was like a holographic glitter, but not like two super-color.

It's like a dust, but it's like a holographic kind of glitter as you line out probably an irresponsible line. I wouldn't know. It's all irresponsible kids. Don't follow Ziggy, but this is an irresponsible line. If much? You close, you go, oh my God.

She tore behind the bars, taking him on too. Oh, yeah. It's about five more minutes. Your head is swimming. You feel like carbonation, but like your blood is on fire. You've ripped off your jacket.

Guys, I think I like drugs. You're like, you're doing, it's about like five more minutes before you're, before. My skin's all itchy. If anyone were to look over about 10 minutes later, you are facing the bosom. of the Claudearon.

Another line hitting right off her chest is she's just wearing a white tank top down. And that's, yeah, so you're, you're fully doing drugs. Yeah, over by the bar. I got a five. That's incredible. I'm all the way in. And this carries on.

And you're, you're, I reach until it comes over. Until I'm pulled elsewhere. And the plan works out. You're like the, you're like the dance scene from Wolf on Wall Street, where you're just going, Like, nutty, you know, like the quailudes are about to hit. You're on the dance floor. Everyone is just having a great time.

And nobody, because the VIP section and the vibe that you've put out, like they definitely you can hear about, I'd say that you even hear this kind of on the floor. You would be able, you're lost in the moment, but even with poor kind of spatial perception, you would catch snippets of people of like brief. excited conversation about the big-time producer that's up in the VIP section and you would know that it's firmly kind of spread through the night yeah I work for him

I'm only in town for like a couple days so yeah I mean more or less anything you want to happen on the dance floor would happen on the dance floor at this point but please go easy on me yeah please You all have this feeling that kind of surges through you. Like, you rule the night. This party is yours, and everyone is here. I'm on the night train. You're on the night train, baby.

When we wake up tomorrow morning is, he's like, last night was a movie. And so, yeah, I'll just be sitting there. I'll have an arm around just two globe lens, and I'll be, oh, it's pleasure to meet you, Twixie, Nixie, Grixie, Dixie, Zaxie, and, Dixie, Zaxie, Plessy, Dixie, Dixie. And I'm meeting them all, and I'm not even like a harem.

You know, they're literally like two in your lap, like, arms around you while you have your arms around two others. And I want to play a cool or like, you know, I'm like probably tapping the music on each of their shoulders. Yeah, yeah. You're focused on the show. You're a man of business. Like, you know, you're? I'm channeling George Hurst when the color speaks to him and he's channeling the goal. Yeah.

I want to act like the music is. You're the philosopher king. Exactly right. Exactly. Yeah. Jesus. Um, the night carries on like this for a little while longer. Until you see, um, uh, Mogsley, what, hang on.

I think Moggley, Moggley? Moggley. Until you see Moggley, um, that same, uh, globbling gentleman that gritted you at the door, um, will, uh, come up to, sorry, will come up to you in the the VIP section. And as the concert begins to wind down and Pixel actually

exits the stage. Woo! We love you, Pixar! And shit. Oh, man. Yeah, in this crazy eruption of light and neon and laser, she goes off in a keytar, explosive, beautiful show. The show was incredible.

You enjoyed it. You have a fantastic time. It's a couple minutes later after she's exited the stage where Mugly comes back up to you and says, and it just says Hey I started to interrupt the evening I see you're all enjoying yourselves

Very much But Very much You look like you've fallen into chalk I have no idea Don't worry He looks fine You got your glasses on

But Pixel From the concert She actually, she'd love to invite you backstage if, nah, I don't want to interrupt your evening. It looks like you're having a great time. The girls are here. You're enjoying drink, a little festivities.

But I'd love to take you backstage if you'd want it. We can have somebody take you back there and we can introduce you to the headliner. I mean, I mean, I, yeah, yeah. I mean, so Pixel Pop would like to see us. If you would like to see her, sir. I mean, you're calling the shots. As a record producer, I am mighty interested. Please.

I hope you don't mind too much. Bixie and Zaxie and Dixie and Trixie. What was your name? Oh, Zixie. Oh, Zixie, that's right. It's a pleasure to meet you. Make sure you fill out the form on our website. It will be in touch.

Oh, well, this is where the pleasure ends, Mr. Rock. I can fall off my lap. Yeah. I ash out my cigarette. I slam back the rest of my drink. Put the table, drink like hard on the table, and immediately remove my arm from this Solari woman's shoulder and just get up and follow Mr. Rye without saying a word.

Call me. I don't even look back. It's like all of a sudden, like, Regents Seamma Grindset. She deflates. Oh, God. Come with me. I'll take you back there myself. We'll get you to Pixel. She's extremely excited to meet you. Words gotten around. But, I mean, obviously, you want to go. I want to introduce you. You know, it's at your pleasure, Mr. Rye. I mean, she frankly, couldn't be more talented. I haven't heard a voice like that.

Oh, let me tell you, she's going to love to hear that. Okay, she's a, I'll let you tell her herself. All right, everybody, you ready? Are you passing me? Because I'm still out in the cold. Oh, you're out in the crowd. Yeah, that's right. That's right. Oh, I will need to collect my associates.

Ziggy, for a second, I'm like, mortified. What's going on, pop? And I like, I've got that long beak, like, tooth at the front of my mouth. My dad, I just, Holy shit. What? Oh, my God. Oh, yeah.

You happen. fun, son? Let's go. All right, it's coming to go, bye, let's grab Coe and let's go back. You mind? I like curse under my breath and I go I'll go find Co. Yeah, I mean, just look for a tall

white-haired blue rhizzo and that's probably her. You look over, I'm like, like, oh. Yeah, I just find out of the crowd. Co is firmly above the crowd. You mind if we just snake over that way and then you take us to her dressing and thank you. Yeah, right away.

Yeah, at the Golden God. Okay, yeah, okay. Yep, we're, okay, let's go. And I immediately, as soon as I see them, I, uh, I join in tow. When we get to, when you like join us, I'm gonna real quick like kind of grab your arm, not hard, but just like, hey, hey look at me,

are you all right? Ah, I've never been fucking better. Are you okay? You still be in all the Mopee and sad? I'm gonna nod at you. I'm gonna look you in the eyes and say, you're a good friend. Thanks, I hope you had fun.

She was cute. right? Hey, it's time, all right? Here we go. You got it. We got it, Pike. I love you, man. I love you, too. All right, come on. We're gonna fucking do this. Are you all right? I'm ready to go. I'm roaring. I'm wearing. You're doing so fucking good. I can't stop making.

I've had so many ideas. Let's go. Let's go. He's rock hard. He's suited out of his goddamn mind. He's not okay. You know, you tell me that. He can taste the stars right now.

He's zooted out of mine. Oh, man. I'm so glad I wore pleaded pants. I hate that. I continue backstage. Yeah, we follow. The crowd parts ways as it looks like Ziggy's holding a divining rod. What was this gentleman's name?

Again, Mogli. Mogli. Mogli. Yeah, M-O-G-L-E-Y. Try this for an immovable. Moggly. Moggley. Moggley.

All right, Mr. Moggley, please lead the way. All right, well, I'll take you back there right now, yes sir. And he'll navigate you. So you gotta go to the section of where the stage was. Off to the right, there's a little cut out in the wall that has a door. Two more large kind of hulking bouncer stand there, blocking the doorway, but they give you no pause as Mowgli leaves you through. You make your way down this hallway passing a couple more

bouncers, these ones armed, kind of ready, like ready to really dissuade any kind of a serious business that shows up. And you walk, it's relatively short distance, but you walk for probably a minute until eventually you come to a room with kind of a neon glowing sign. It looks like with like it looks like it can change out the text, but it says pixel pop star. And he swings the doorway open And he says Enjoy enjoy the Evening the evening sir

Whatever you're any of y'all like We're still at your beck and call If Pixel needs anything you do but please Please enjoy the backstage As you open the door And you are met with Pixel And Nikki Would you please come to the table

Yeah Let fucking go Whoa! Yes! You didn't see that shit coming. You weren't even close. I was watching chat, and I'm like, nobody knows. Yeah, nobody knew.

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