A Conversation at the Royale Lounge
By Joshua Pierre
“You’ve come all this way for what exactly?” the host asks looking for some indication for why he has removed himself from his current festivities.
A guest sits across from him on the other side of a black and golden seamed booth that is lit with dim candlelight sitting atop a white and golden trimmed tablecloth. The guest admires all the lights, people, music, and glamour that has taken over the downstairs area of the club. The host wouldn’t refer to the venue as a club. Simply: The Lounge.
The host raises his voice a few levels so that his guest can hear him more clearly, “Would you like something to drink young man?” The guest nods. The host then points to the bartender and server by the bar and puts two fingers up. “So, what is it you’re searching for? I can only think of a few reasons that would bring you here to have a conversation with me.”
The guest takes a beat to think about how you even got here in the first place. He can’t remember. Last thing he can remember was flying in the plane.
“That plane is something special. Only reason you would find it though is if you were looking to die.” This comment caught the guest of guard. He starts to remember why he got there in the first place.
“I think I wanted to see you.” The guest finally admits.
Smiling, “To see me? Why would you want to do that?”
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to ever accomplish the dreams that I set out to do.” The guest looks around the venue again impressed. “Looks like we did.”
“No, I did.” Sternly spoken by the host as the drinks arrive at the table. “What makes you think you are on the same path as me? I didn’t fly in that plane. I took a different route. I guess what matters is getting yourself back on track. Or maybe, you’re on a better path than myself. Some things in this reality aren’t perfect. I went for a practical way I suppose. Genuinely started the revolution and lost that battle. Served time and was then utilized by the oppressors to be a successful entrepreneur to keep people like us, at bay.”
The guest is taken aback. “You’re a traitor?”
“No, I lost. Lost everything. I’m sure your mother is gone now, correct?”
The guest replies with a heartbreakingly, “Yeah.”
The host lifts his glass up in the air, “To our mother. To be forever missed and no matter which route we take, we will always watch her die. So don’t have regrets over that.” They clink their glasses together and take a sip. “Now, once again, why are you here visiting me?”
“Well, I figured if I saw where I was in the future, I would be more relieved to know that the time I spent wasn’t wasted. That I would accomplish what I needed to in time. Start the revolution.”
“You can’t look at us as the same. We’re not. You still haven’t proved yourself to yourself. I see nothing but doubt in your eyes and fear in your heart. I can walk you through all of the ideas and projects you have on your mind, but the chaos won’t allow you access them.” The host pauses for a moment to take another sip. “You are on the plane. You’ve chosen the path of the Aviators.”
The guest raises his eyebrow, “The path of the Aviators? What’s that?”
“It’s the only path we haven’t done. Go through complete rock bottom and learn fly afterwards. An Aviator is a person who chooses to be a leader and innovator in the career path. You can have Aviators in any field that’s out there. It’s all about helping the artists at first though. Through the Art House anything is possible. You just now must step up and develop what you’ve always intended. I can tell you from experience that I did not accomplish all our dreams. This is place is the consolation for my effort given to me by my enemies.”
The guest takes a moment to process the information he was just told. “You failed? How could you surrender?”
“I got married. I had to decide between my family and my life. I want to see my kids grow up, even though I don’t think there’s much time left for me. But I’m still curious, what’s the point of you being here asking me questions? There is no happy ending. There is no salvation here. You aren’t supposed to be here. You aren’t supposed to die in the plane. You need to wake up and enjoy the fall.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Maybe you’re not supposed to. Just be ready to go back. If you need more time in your life, write it. It will come true. Anything you set your mind to you can accomplish. But I never want to see you here again.” The host grabs his glass and finishes his drink and slams the glass on the table causing a crack to crawl up the side of the glass. “Listen to me kid, you think you’ve suffered? Life is all about pain and suffering with just a little bit of happiness. Enjoy the happy times and treat the people you love properly. Outside of that this whole thing is a game. A chess game. Play to win. If you don’t, I assure you, you have already lost.” The host begins to walk away.
“Wait, I didn’t get to ask anything really? I need to talk to you about everything we have had in mind. What works and what doesn’t. What happens and what doesn’t.”
The host chuckles, “You’re an Aviator kid. You might have already figured it out and just don’t notice quite yet. But it will come to you once you put your head down and do the work. Like I said before, we haven’t been an Aviator yet. Leave a note for the next one that’s us to not take the flight you’re on. But to fly high enough to elevate the world. There’s nothing stopping us. It just isn’t our versions brother.”
The host walks off and the guest drinks the rest of his drink. He lays his head on the table and closes his eyes.
He feels a breeze on his forehead and opens his eyes. He is back in the plane that host mentioned before. The guest finally realizes that he is travelling through all the different aspects of his life and the possibilities that exist.
The gas is almost out on the plane and there is no landing gear. The only way down is to crash. Survival percentage is below three percent (or at least that’s what the note said.) Game over for this life and what happened. The host didn’t look happy in any regard except for when he found out that the guest was in the plane. There is something at the end of this flight of life and the guest intends to find out what exactly it is.
Hello, I’m the writer. These two have discussed with me what happened. I gave you a rough estimation of what they discussed when they met each other. I’ve reached my crossroads and now they have helped guide me forward for what comes next.
Welcome to A Life of Fiction.