Welcome to Gaia! ::

Landon blinked. Did Christian really think of his even-exchange capitalism as dealing with the Devil? But that didn't matter right now, because the Georgian was at least willing to hear him out.

So California also cut straight to the chase. "You know that this is too good a movie op for me to simply pass up," he stated, lowering his hands as he spoke. He knew that the others had probably already guessed that much. "I've already got a horrible debt, and skipping over a blockbuster occurring right under my nose is financially ruinous. But capitalizing off of another state's misery is just too far, even for me.

"So I'm going to keep going with the movie, which I've already started with you here anyway, but I'll protect your sensibilities if you help me style it away from you two. It's a bit like an insurance policy. No one will ever know if we do this right. How does that sound?"

Landon tilted his head at Christian and Rutilio once he had finished with his offer. Such an offer from the pro-business, pro-capitalist state was rare indeed, especially when he needed all the money he could get to haul himself out of his enormous debt. It was the best Landon was willing to offer, and he hoped Florida and Georgia would agree. The Westerner extended his hand once again to the sniffling Southerner in an invitation of goodwill.

(phone. Look, a head with a heart!)

Landon yelped as he was roughly hauled over by a very angry Rutilio. "Hey! You don't even know what I have planned!" he griped in a hasty defense while he scrambled for another solution. "There are more ways to gain money than that! For all you know, it could be a children's movie! What harm can that be?!"

The state honestly thought he had found a rare middle ground, and that the Southerner wasn't thinking this through. Yes, he did care enough not to seriously wound the two Southerners, but he wasn't going under to keep their relationship secret. Sooner or later it had to come out, and if he was the one to spill it, at least no one would take it seriously enough to tease them about it. It wasn't Florida's reaction that surprised him, for he had gotten the same from every state who thought his movies would ruin them, but the vehemence with which he reacted to the idea. At least it had happened now, when they could be too drunk to remember, instead of in front of all the other states as well. If that happened, he was very certain he wouldn't be standing here right now. If Landon just kept the characters and gave the plot a complete overhaul, their relationship would be safe and he would have his money. Money was as dear to California as it was to Florida, perhaps even more. Could Florida or Georgia do better?

He decided to test that. Dragging Rutilio's hand with him, Landon crossed his arms in a huff. "I'm not the one who just got accused of slander, you were. I generally avoid risks like this. This is the only time I have ever needed to ask." He had never before needed to ask permission to make a blockbuster, and the sheer necessity was infuriating. Even the perpetually happy Westerner was getting angry. Georgia was completely forgotten as California turned his rage on Florida, and it was potent enough for him to ignore the possibility of apologizing. His debt was constantly threatening to sink him. His own politicians' lazy dithering had long since ceased to bother him, but was Ruti now denying him a way out of debt, too?

He sighed and waved his free hand in weary fury. "I just want the characters to stay. If you can't think of a better middle way, I'll call it off. But don't expect me to hold back if you two get in another scrape or even a divorce," he threatened, not really caring if Rutilio slapped him. Besides, his new challenge should at least make the Floridian pause for thought. "Don't forget, my movies have helped your South more than they have ever hurt. And my tourism ideas have made you my biggest rival in the Continent, Rutilio," he added, with venomous emphasis on the last word that clearly said I can break you. And he knew he could do it. As the fifth most powerful economic force in the world, he knew he could follow up on such a promise, even in his state of constant debt. California was still surprised that, after all Disney and Universal had done for Florida, he would turn on him so suddenly and violently. Just how deep did this newly realized Southern love go?

Trying unsuccessfully to calm down, Landon added, "I have always kept state sensibilities safe; you know that. Think! When have I ever directly profited from your personal lives? I just capitalize off the stereotypes. No one from one state thinks more of another state than the stereotypes anyways. Even if I were to blatantly dump your story in a tabloid for all the world to see, the people would simply put it down to crazy celebs and ignore it. All I want are the characters, and you two can do the plot, so long as it's useful. Honestly, a few movies and everyone thinks I'm out to get them good," he grumbled under his breath.

"I'll ask again: let me keep the characters and movie up, and you two design a good plot, and I promise no word of this will slip out until you're ready. I always keep my word." True, Landon had found numerous loopholes before, but he had never reneged on a promise between states, which was part of why he had rarely been successfully sued by his siblings. He had spelled out exactly what he wanted from them, and if they refused, he still had no intention of apologizing.

(Really, I'm all done. Quote me again when you are too. || Oh, this is going to break the trio so badly. || Georgia seems in a perfect position to make a compromise... or a second wallop. || Dark Cali should be an early Industrialist CEO. I didn't expect him to get so angry. XD || Phone post is tough when I keep getting new ideas! I can at least sit on it on the comp. || Have you finished the Camera short?)

Massachusetts had gotten the text and wanted to come to the party right away, but she was helped up at The Physicians office. She skipped down the hall and knocked on the door.

----------------------------

Conne smiled, "Who invited you?" he was just curious who brought her here. To Conne's knowledge he was the only state that she was friends with. "And i don't mean it in a bad or mean way, I'm glad you are here."

The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

"I'm sure we'll think of something to play," Tennessee said with a small shrug. "I like most folk music and I think your clogging is nice enough for you to do it alone." He didn't mind simply plucking guitar and banjo strings together, either. It had been a long time since they got together to do that sort of thing, but if she really felt like they needed more southerners on their team maybe Georgia would be willing to help. Andrew looked up and paused when he realized that the brother in question was missing and it looked like both California and Florida had wondered away from the rest of the crowd, too. There was a small part of him which began to worry what sort of weird, most likely drunken, misadventures they had gotten into, but he was fairly certain no one had left the party. They would have noticed that, right?

Andrew heard the knock on the front door and, knowing California wasn't in the room to answer it, he decided the polite thing to do would be to let them in himself. He gently excused himself from his sister before opening it and smiling when he saw Massachusetts had arrived. "Hey, Leah," he said. "I ain't seen you 'round in a while. Come on in. I dunno where California got off to, but I'm sure he's here somewhere."

Grade 9
The Volunteer

I said where I come from
It's cornbread and chicken
Where I come from a lotta front porch sittin'
Where I come from tryin' to make a livin'
And workin' hard to get to heaven
Where I come from

There aren't too many rules when you come here.
Mind your P's an' Q's.
Be polite to all ya meet.
Take pride in where you're from.
Tea is always sweet.
And it's Coca-Cola, not Pepsi!

The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

Tennessee had been talking to Massachusetts and inviting her in the house when suddenly California railroaded passed him, nearly knocking the Volunteer to the side as he shoved George Christian and Rutilio outside. The boy gawked in surprise at the venom that Landon and his brother were all but spitting at each other while Florida remained uncharacteristically silent. What on earth was going on?

Andrew wasn't quite sure if it was his place to get involved, though. It was an unnerving display and he wasn't too happy about it, but the Tennessean could only stand back out of the way with Leah and the other innocent bystanders. Finally, as the smoke began to clear, he glanced at Leah.

"... Nevermind. I think the party is prob'ly ending..." he muttered uncertainly.

Grade 9
The Volunteer