• Hey, we gotta celebrate dis whole damn gig! We acted our asses off — now it’s party Whose place we crashin’?


  
• Mine, mine! My uncle’s home tonight and he’ll be thrilled to meet you all! — Vanna squealed, way too hyped. Honestly, it was a good call — bonding time boosts morale.


  

  But Flora was already slipping into yet another role — that of a reluctant manager (besides being director, producer, therapist, human shield...). As Copy so gracefully put it:

  

  
• When God handed out talents, he kept leadership for That’s why He runs billions, and you can’t handle a bunch of deranged grease- muppets.


  

  Flora tried a different tactic. She made big sad puppy eyes and pleaded:

  

  
• Guys, can we just call it a day? We filmed the first scene, yay us, but maybe let’s shoot the next one tomorrow or the day after? I’ll send you all the time and date in the group chat...


  
• Nah, my lil' cunnipie sugar bun, we wanna party and get the party started! — Campus


  
• I might not be a rapper, but I still dream of a party with Hollywood's next big Hee- hee- hee!


  
• A perfect reference to those mainstream showbiz — Vanna clapped her hands in delight. — You clearly keep up with celebrity gossip and tabloids.


  
• Oh, hell yeah, baby I see you like me. — The little creep stuck out his tongue and bounced excitedly. — That a yes? Or: No means Absolutely No and No way?


  

  

  
• Talking in catchphrases now. — Manu chuckled, and then added his voice of reason. — Esteemed colleagues, I happen to have an excellent location for our first team It’s right on the oceanfront, so we shall enjoy fresh air, a stunning view, and...


  

  

  
• There gonna be booze, ma boy? — Peyota cut in, all


  

  

  
• — The scientist nodded. — I wouldn’t have extended the invitation otherwise.


  

  

  
• Then what we standing here for?! — Campus — Liquor makes me chatty.


  
• You’re — Evelyn cringed and waved the group toward the trailer. — So it’s settled. We’re goin’ to Manu’s.


  

  Seeing her niece’s scandalized face, she shrugged:

  

  
• Sorry, I didn’t back you up, but I’ve been hauling that damn heavy camera all day. You and I both need to chill.


  
• — Flora sighed in defeat, her eyes now downcast instead of furious — earning a dismissive snort from Copy.


  

  This gloriously messed- up crew was met by an equally unhinged trailer, which, upon activating the GPS, let out the sound of a bubbling bong and greeted them with:

  

  
• Waagwan, my bredren and Where we rollin’ today? Evelyn turned from the driver’s seat and asked Manu:


  
• Valid Drop us the exact address.


  

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  

  
• Venice That’s our first stop... then we’ll walk a bit.


  

  

  
• Our love van just toked a fat hybrid and is now ready to surf the neural highways of your mind, comrades. — The navigator chirped once Evelyn typed in the destination.


  
• This is gonna be another weird- ass .. — Flora sighed under her breath, making sure no one heard.


  

  Manu’s promise of a - short walk- turned out to be a cruel understatement. They trudged across the sand for a good half-hour, each of them melting under the sun, sweat pouring like waterfalls.

  Finally, the Hawaiian proclaimed:

  

  
• We’re here! See? Told you it wouldn’t take


  

  As a chorus of annoyed stares beamed at him, he decided to pivot:

  

  
• What do you think of my secret lair? Intriguing, no?


  

  That’s one word for it.

  Flora gazed at the stone walls of the cave with an unshakable mix of artistic awe and reverence. Large wooden gates had been installed in the entrance — and they called to her with a power stronger than even the pull of her own film. She would’ve given anything to see what lay behind them... in livestream format, of course, with someone else holding the camera.

  She’d never be brave enough to go in alone — but surrounded by a group, she had no excuse. Well, she did, technically, but couldn’t afford to look like a completely spineless wannabe director.

  Especially when the real boss — Evelyn — brightly announced:

  

  
• Good thing I brought the camera from the This is definitely worth filming. Flo, think we should include our little private party in the upcoming movie?


  

  For the first time in ages, Flora managed to say a firm - no- and even back it up with logic:

  

  
• Auntie, while my script is kind of vague and relies heavily on improvisation — like, heavily — it still has some structured scenes. And I’d prefer to stick to that protocol.


  
• Any script can be rewritten on the fly to include new scenes, fresh dialogue, spicy In short: amateur. — Copy hissed through her teeth. Maybe it was the ocean breeze, maybe the heat scrambled her neurons, but Flora suddenly decided she wasn’t gonna take this mental abuse anymore.


  

  She told her doppelg?nger to step away from the crew while Manu opened the wooden gates using an old- school lever and pulley system (seriously, straight outta medieval movie sets).

  Sitting down by the shore, dipping her toes into the warm, teasing waves, Flora saw Copy mirror her. And then she attacked. Well... she wanted to believe it was an attack, but the dramatic monologue she’d rehearsed in her head turned into this glorious mess instead:

  

  
• Why are you always trying to hurt me? What did I ever do to you?!


  

  

  
• Because you’re soft and whiny, and there’s no place for that in the brutal world of cinema — a world whose savage laws I worship and uphold.


  
• That kind of system may have existed once, but times have Ever heard of equality and tolerance? These days, people don’t put each other down — they lift each other up, respecting their differences and accepting folks as they are.


  

  Like... respecting their views, their choices, and their individuality! — That was probably Flora’s strongest speech yet, and even she was surprised at how her tongue had untied. Inside, she felt a rush of pride. Until she heard:

  

  
• Equality and tolerance... are just the hypocrite’s way of making the strong obey the weak. (Another pretentious quote by Copy, carefully crafted so trembling readers can repeat it at parties to impress coworkers and distant aunts.)


  

  Copy coldly crushed Flora’s momentum, leaving her scrambling for a comeback. All she could muster was:

  

  
• But that’s not Do you have specific examples? Or are you just being a demagogue?