The Future of Sulani | 8

After weeks of hounding the club's promoter, Noelani is finally about to play their first DJ set at Club Aqua. It will undoubtedly be their biggest show yet, and though it may have been only the sheer annoyance factor of their unrelenting persistence that sealed the deal, they couldn't care less. They've been ecstatically raving about the opportunity to anyone who will listen (well, mostly Nani and Malia) ever since they received the call. Club Aqua is the sort of buzzy up-and-coming place that is often frequented by elite music business professionals scouting fresh new talent, even all the way out in Sulani. If Noelani's music reaches the right ears tonight, it could change their life forever.

The club's sophistication and cool factor, especially compared to any other night life scene in Sulani, gives everyone a chance to dress up for the occasion even more than they normally would. When Noelani sees Nani come downstairs in an elegant, perfectly form-fitting romper, their jaw drops. Nani has never looked more beautiful.

The club's DJ set-up is so much more complicated and advanced than any Noelani has seen before that they make sure to take the extra time before their performance to become comfortable with it. It would be a real embarrassment if they suddenly started pressing the wrong buttons during the show, revealing to a massive crowd that they have no idea what they're doing.

After a couple overpriced drinks (unfortunately not on the house, despite their insistence that they're friends with the DJ), Nani and Malia are loosened up and ready to show their support the only way they know how - dancing like no one else is watching.

Quickly, the rooftop begins to fill up with curious club-goers. Surprisingly, most of them don't seem like they're just there to dance, regardless of what kind of music is playing or who is playing it. Many are almost completely still but not in a bored or disgusted way. They are standing with their eyes closed, dreamy smiles on their faces, hypnotically nodding their heads to the beat. Honestly, it's the best reaction Noelani's yet experienced - true appreciation.

Of course, it's not a proper night out without another random guy being entirely too obvious about how attractive he finds Malia. Nani makes sure to keep a close eye on him, prepared to intervene at a moment's notice if he decides to make a move.

By the end of the set, Noelani is on cloud nine. This is the moment they've been waiting for. With any luck, years from now, they will fondly look back on the memory of tonight as the real beginning of everything, the instant in which all those long hours spent hunched over their computer with headphones glued to their ears finally paid off.

They know they're not alone in thinking this night was something special because, after the set, Nani can't stop raving. "Everyone was feeling it so much!" she exclaims. "Your stuff sounded so good on those massive speakers. I swear, the dance floor was practically pulsing to the beat!"

"And, by the way," she continues, "you look so sexy tonight. I can't wait to get you into the bedroom later."

Noelani nearly spits out their drink. It's adorable how vocally flirtatious Nani becomes when she's got a bit of alcohol in her system, but it still catches Noelani off-guard every time. "Slow your roll, Casanova," she jokes. "We've still got plenty of time to get to all that."

Suddenly, Nani's gaze is averted as a clean-cut man in an expensive-looking blazer enters the lounge area from upstairs. "Hey, I recognize that guy!" she exclaims, inexplicably excited about it.

"Yeah," Noelani says, barely glancing over. "He was on the roof just like everybody else."

"No, but he stood out. He seemed really focused, like he was listening with intent. Actually, he does look kind of official. Do you think he might be some sort of record exec?"

Then, as if summoned, the man pivots in their direction, a friendly but professional smile on his face. "Oh my God, oh my God," Noelani says in a panicky whisper. "He's coming over here. What do I do? What do I do?"

"Just play it cool," Nani urges, her mouth barely moving as she tries to appear unfazed by the man's approach.

Across from them, Malia snorts. "Right. Because you're the queen of cool, aren't you, Miss PDA?"

"Noelani," the man exclaims in a booming, confident voice, as if they're already good friends. "Fantastic show, really. So energetic and refreshing. There were surprises around every corner, but the whole thing still flowed effortlessly."

"Um, thank you."

The man extends a hand for Noelani to shake. "I was hoping we could have a conversation. My name's Theo Bloom. I'm a talent manager based out of San Myshuno, and I think you might just be music's next rising star."

At this, Noelani blushes, rendered speechless by his generous words. Theo jerks his thumb toward an empty table, indicating that they should sit. Shakily, Noelani stands and follows him to it.

"You think I could be a star?" they ask tentatively. "Really?" Even though these are the exact words they've been manifesting for so long, it's all moving so quickly now. Weren't they just performing at a small event on the beach a few weeks ago? Yet, now, here they sit talking to a man from the big city who thinks they might have what it takes to break through. It seems too good to be true. The confidence Noelani felt while performing fades away, leaving them suddenly insecure. "I'm just some island kid messing around with a drum machine and a cheap synthesizer when I can get a day off from bartending."

"No, no, no." He shakes his head like a disappointed schoolteacher. "You're so much more than that, and I think you know it. You would never have made it this far if you didn't believe in yourself."

"That's nice of you to say," they mutter, rubbing the back of their neck.

His voice is insistent and firm but still warm. "I'm not just saying it. I mean it."

"I'm interested in signing you, but it's going to be hard to blow up from here. What I'm proposing is that you come out to San Myshuno for a week or so. Consider it a test run. We'll shoot some publicity photos, book a gig, see if we can build up some buzz on social media. Then we'll see how you feel at the end of all that."

"How I feel about... what?" Noelani asks.

"Making the move to the city, of course! Listen, I know you consider this place home, and I can definitely see why you'd want to stay. It's like an endless summer vacation out here! But if you want to start making real waves, it's important to do it from a place where as many people can see you as possible."

He leaves a business card on the table before excusing himself. "Take some time to think about it," he tells Noelani. "I'll be in touch again soon."

For a long time, Noelani just sits at the table alone, dumbstruck. All it took was one conversation to make them feel as though their entire life has been thrown up in the air. What the hell are they supposed to do now? How does a person go about even thinking about such a gigantic decision?

They all sleep in until nearly noon the next day, and it isn't until then that Noelani springs the news on Nani and Malia. Although they still feel hopelessly confused, their housemates are immediately giddy with excitement.

"San Myshuno?!?" Nani nearly screams. "Are you kidding? Of course you should go! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"But I have so much stuff going on here," Noelani protests weakly. "I can't just up and leave at a moment's notice."

Malia rolls her eyes. "Like what? The Sand Bar? Please. They'll barely even realize you're gone."

"No, like... you guys. My family. My friends."

"Trust me, we'll still be here when you get back. This is your dream, Noelani. It's what you've always wanted."

"Besides," Nani interjects, a sudden twinkle in her eyes, "I was kind of hoping you might invite us along."

"Really? You guys would want to go with me?"

"Duh!" Malia exclaims, and Noelani can tell she's already making a mental checklist of what outfits she wants to pack for the trip. "If you haven't already outgrown the need for support from your original number one fans, that is."

Noelani sighs with relief. Why had they spent the night tossing and turning, believing that they would have to go at this entirely on their own? Sure, the conversation might be a little different if they had admitted to Nani and Malia that this trip was kinda-sorta supposed to be a trial period for a potentially permanent move to the city, but they didn't even know if things would end up panning out that way. That was a discussion for another time. Right now, the idea of flying halfway across the world to spend a week in the city with their two best friends was definitely a tempting one.

After hearing Noelani's announcement, it's difficult for Nani to drag herself into work for another humdrum day of answering emails and drafting proposals. Right now, she's attempting to get a local ordinance pushed through that's proving controversial: a complete ban on fishing between the hours of 12:00 PM and 8:00 PM. It's intended to help combat the depletion of native species due to overfishing, but it keeps getting sent back down to her by the higher-ups for revisions that only serve to lessen its impact. To her, it's beginning to seem more and more like her bosses are in the pocket of the commercial fisheries profiting off of Sulani's waters. The work she once loved has somehow become soul-crushing, despite the view out her office window.

A few weeks ago, she was promoted to sustainability specialist, a title she hoped would bring her more respect and less red tape to cut through. While it has given her more direct access to the politicians who can make a difference on the highest level, that mostly just means she now has to hear each and every one of their points of hesitancy when it comes to backing her proposals from the horse's mouth instead of via a long and winding chain of emails, which is no less exhausting. She's beginning to feel like she could use a major change of pace.

Before bed that night, Nani pulls Noelani tight against her. "I'm proud of you, babe," she whispers. "This San Myshuno trip is going to be so huge for you, I just know it. I've been thinking..."

She trails off, and Noelani prompts her gently. "Yeah?"

"Well, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to think about living somewhere else for a while. It could be an adventure. It could be the beginning of the rest of our lives."

Of course, Noelani should have known Nani would catch onto the real significance of this trip without having to be told. "You'd really do that for me?" they ask softly.

"Not just for you. For me, too. I don't know. I've been feeling restless lately, unsatisfied. I think I might be reaching my capacity for usefulness here. Sulani isn't the only place that needs protecting, after all. The entire planet needs help."

As promised, it doesn't take long for Theo Bloom to come knocking - literally. He shows up on their doorstep bright and early a couple mornings later. "Oh," Malia exclaims in surprise when she recognizes him, suddenly feeling self-conscious that she's still in her pajamas. "I didn't realize Noelani gave you our address."

"They didn't," Theo says brightly, "but all I had to do was ask around about where the local DJ lives. Turns out pretty much everyone on this island is a big fan. I hope I'm not intruding."

"No, come in. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you."

Of course, Noelani is in the middle of a bath when Malia informs them they have a visitor. "Oh my God!" they gasp, mortified. There's no way they can sneak back upstairs without being seen. "Grab me some clothes, quick!"

A few minutes later, Noelani greets Theo with a smile, as if they weren't just scurrying to dry off and get dressed in a record amount of time. "So," he begins, skipping the pleasantries and jumping straight into the reason for his visit, "have you had a chance to consider my proposal?"

For a moment, Noelani pretends to contemplate, but they've never been great at lying, so their enthusiasm quickly seeps through. "I'm in! When do we leave?"

"And make that three plane tickets," Malia pipes in from across the room. "Noelani's best friends need to be there for moral support, obviously."

Theo is momentarily stunned, but the look on Malia's face tells him she won't take no for an answer. "All right," he finally says. "I suppose the agency can swing the cost. Consider it an investment." He makes direct eye contact with Noelani. "I suspect it will end up paying off very nicely."

///

As a side note, I've added new cover photos to all of my story index pages (the links at the top of the blog) since my new thing lately is to mess around in Photoshop as a means of feeling productive without actually being productive. Some of them are more inspired than others (mostly because my earlier stories had far less specific concepts to work with). I particularly enjoy what I came up with for A Place to Call Home and Desert Dreamers.

It also gave me a nice little opportunity to reminisce on all of my Sims' origins. Sometimes, it's hard to believe there's a direct link from Noelani all the way back to my first ever Sims 4 creation, Zora. So much has happened in the game and in my evolution as a player since, but this has technically been a sneaky legacy all along! (Although I am a little saddened by how sure I was in that first post that I would still go back to Sims 2, when I actually touched it maybe once after that. I still love it in my heart and believe it is technically the better game, but I'm afraid I'm spoiled by Sims 4's graphics at this point.) Anyway, I will stop waxing nostalgic, but this is a good time to acquaint yourself/renew your acquaintance with some of my old Sims if you're feeling so inclined!