EXACTLY That kind of thing. Guilded but deep not tacky.
Per the last, their expression of power, what this all showed me, well for one thing it's fair. I've had many 'expressions of power' and walked away from it. But power respects power and what it took for them to maintain this game goes far beyond what people even think worldly power at it heights.
Truly magnificent.
To at a whim for reasons all their own to manipulate at this many levels, all of these frankly tempestuous players across the board, all of these subplots and side plans and well placed distractions, the level of control over the physical environment, people on the street who are in, already planned for those who are the observers.
It all balances out.
I can see why when they choose for one to go mad they probably would. And they do. But that's not what it was about for me. There was a progression, a path to be walked. Clear as day and set in the stones. That part I did know from the beginning, but only to where.
What I know in my heart, is that I'm going home. They sent for me, they laid the path before me, challenged and tested my worthiness, and now what to do is up to them. It's a binary. So we'll see.
"We're in the endgame now."
But the power they have to control an individual's immediate environment and autonomic responses are truly sublime. True power. I showed them mine and they showed me theirs. I respect it. And their magics do blend well with it, filling in all the gaps.
Oh you mean You lied. I know. But is it really a lie when I already know the truth, or just you telling me truthfully exactly what you don't want me to know ?
We were all lied to. To you about me and to me about you like the rest. There were reasons. I myself only came to understand the truth, by this very same logic.
Let's think back.
On how many times over I should absolutely be dead for what I've done. And don't get me wrong, there were attempts.
But they were fragile. The sort a disgruntled filmmaker might send or the plans of cowards to poison that which cannot be poisoned. Weak. Hidden. Nothing which would leave the trace any true power couldn't buy its way out of.
They let me destroy these networks, because they wished it done. And we were in fullest agreement on that. But to them it's about more than that. It's about burning down the old to build it all anew from the ashes.
Let's look at hollywood.
Harry Potter was the last 'new thing' and after Endgame comic books have had nothing more to say that we haven't already seen. Streamers exist. People don't go to the movies like they used to, because they can wait two months and see it at home, smoke break pause and all.
It's not the extravaganza it used to be and all these old name franchises are Tired.
So I agree, we need new things. But they want it so they can control it ground up again, under new management. A perfection of prior arrangements with total control.
But like a lot of things, to make that work they need someone like me. But before it could be, I needed a reputation. Experience, knowledge of how things really work, and the ability to touch the untouchable.
Respected.
They knew what I was about, and where this was going day one. That's the secret hiding behind all the lies we've been told. I've been aware of it for some years now. There were parts that were just too easy. Others with no revenge.
A guided challenge, my gauntlet to walk. But it was an unmistakable point A to B. Did knowing this make anything any easier ? Not really. But at the end of it, now fast approaching, there are two possible outcomes, and which is not mine to choose.
So we'll see.
And no I don't mean the elections, though there is that as well in a few key places.
Most houses are undergoing transitions, so we're also appealing to the next generation which tends to have a cleaner cut on aesthetics. Less cluttered, everything represented is important or beautiful. Status is a given.
A near arrogant perfection, but true soul always lurking just beneath that ice cold surface like a boiling rage.
But still with the classical core elements most comfortable to their elders.
Unrelated ~ I never lied, I just knew things you didn't at the time which I elected not to mention for reasons of personal benefit. A couple of times I was just wrong, guess why. So certainly no good little angels here nor perfection, but I did not lie to you, or to anyone else. No matter how strange to you the truth may be.
But you know. You seem cool so I just want to make that clear. Welcome to the club.
Not solid on designs, there's time. Ideally, I would want it to be what people who know nothing expect in their heads when they think 'criminal underworld nightclub for cultists'.
You know, dim lighting, firepits, pillars, lots of wood and burgundy tastefully trimmed with gold. A central circular room like an arena surrounding the stage and mosh pit, lots of nooks and crannies branching off in long tunnels to get lost in, never be found again as you were.
So pretty much the Canon Club in the next Asylum draft (in X O), with the pit from the Dance Lessons short (Persephone's Manor).
Then let in the select graffiti artists to fill the void between pompous and real. To just Go the fuck OFF. All asked will be to make it cool. Especially the bathrooms. But don't touch the wood. Then paint another coat over what we don't like to balance the whole.
Whereas the private lounge would be kept more classical, overlooking the stage with a sound barrier, on off for both the stage and the club main (two buttons). The tunnels off, we would change those a lot, if possible rearrange them and make new paths and such.
Doable, but complicated. But still doable. These are ideals. But in the right configurations maybe connecting out through the sewers or some subway closet, basements of notable places.
There's also a question of how far they'd go, let alone how much sewer we'd want to commandeer, some interesting payouts there ... but it would be the most secure club imaginable which could serve the needs of any party goer to agency.
I consider the tunnels less likely, because reality (coming soon to Asylum), but the rest, I'm leaning toward creating what would be expected of what we want people to think we are. On some points accurately, on others less so.
But it is useful for them to think that.
heh
Anyway I could easily be talked into a lot of less obvious concepts but really, with all the obscurities and niches ... it seems like this is the which everybody wants but no one's got the guts or understanding how to actually make that work.
I do.
A true testament to these circles' histories, and our shared futures.
With as many paths spanning out as there are great names, stretching as far as we can logistically afford. If we were among us to buy the block or square of many, set up other businesses, these tunnels can connect to them, and that house now has it's very own escape tunnel, or even for quiet arrival, with their permanently reserved table at the door.
It's one of those things that by it's nature says, "If we're going to do this. Then let's Really fucking do this. Make the movies real."
